
Estimates, Costs & Profits 

HOUSE PAINTING & INTERIOR DECORATING 

By F. N. VANDERWALKER 

Jllilll 





Glass_/ /p^d" 

Book_" f/ O . 

GopyiightN" 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 



ESTIMATES, COSTS & PROFITS 

Exterior Painting and Interior Decorating 



-♦ u 



By 

F.N.Vanderwalker, 
Of The Paint Information Bureau, 
Carter White Lead Co., Chicago,Ill. 

AUTHOR OF 
TIFFANY WALL GLAZING, 
MOTTLING & BLENDING 
INTERIOR DECORATING 
THE STENCIL & STENCILING 
STAINING & INTERIOR WOOD FINISHING 
BOOK KEEPING,ACCOUNTS & RECORDS 



Publishers 
The TEXT BOOK CO. 
West Pulhnan P. O. 
CHICAGO. I LI*. 



.V3 



Copyright 1916 

By 

F.N.Vanderwalker 
Ail rights reserved 




MAY -6 1916 / 

©CI.A427976 -^ 






"-^J 



PREFACE 

Efficiency is the goal of the Business World today 
and it means just as much to the Contrac ting- 
Painter as to any other business man, efficiency in 
business methods, in handling men, equipment and 
materials. The Efficient Painter makes money on a 
contract that his inefficient competitor would fill at 
a loss. 

To know your business, to figure where the other 
fellow guesses at it is the most worthj?-, the most 
effective of all efforts to make a profit. 

The figures given in this book were carefully 
worked out and verified. Some are given chiefly to 
explain the method, but all are as nearly accurate as 
it is possible to make them under average working 
conditions. Any tests you may make probably will 
not come out in exactly the same figures but they 
will show that the figures given are accurate enough 
for all practical purposes and to furnish a basis upon 
which to build an estimate and calculate costs. 

THE AUTHOR. 



CONTExNTS. 

CHAPTER I. COUNT THE COST. 

CHAPTER n. FIGURING THE 
COST OF A JOB. 

Material Cost — Section No. 1 

Labor Cost ..._ " " 2 

Overhead Expenses — — *' " o 

Profit - " " 4 

Another Method of Figuring " " 5 

CHAPTER III. MAKING AN ES- 
TIMATE — EXTERIOR 
PAINTING. 

Measuring the Building " "6 

Measuring the Surface from 

Plans - " "7 

Reading Plans " " 8 

Taking Off Quantities " " 9 

To Figure the Amount of Mate- 
rial for a Job " *' 10 

How Many Gallons from a Mix.... " "11 

How Much Surface Will One Gal- 
lon Cover? - " " 12 

To Figure the Amount of Labor 

for a Job.... " " 13 

What is a Day's Work " " 14 

Painting Difficult Surfaces — 

Extra Labor " " 15 

Time Required Setting Stages, 

Ladders and Scaffolds " " 16 

Time Required for Mixing Colors '' '* 17 

Burning and Scraping Scaled 

Paint -- - " '' 18 

Extras " " 19 

Making Up the Estimate — Ex- 
terior—Figure ''X" " " 20 

Listing the Material. 
Listing the Labor. 



The Elstimate Complete— Exte- 
rior—Figure "X" " 

Making- Up the Estimate — Ex- 
terior—Figure "A" - " 

Listing the Material. 
Listing the Labor. 
The Estimate Complete— Exte- 
rior — Figure "A" - 

CHAPTER IV. ESTIMATING— 
INTERIOR. 

Unit System of Estimating - " 

To Calculate the Amount of 

Material ]* 

Measuring the Rooms 

Measuring the Surface from 

Plans — — -- 

Measuring the Walls and Ceilings " 

Measuring the Floor Area -- 

Measuring the Wood Trim 

Summarj^ — Area to be Decorated — 

Interior— Figure "A'' " 

To Figure Amount of Material — 

Interior — - 

How Much Surface Will One 

Gallon Cover? - " 

One Gallon of Flat Paint Covers - " 

*' *' Varnish " " 

- " Hard Oil " -- " 

" " Shellac " " 

" " Wax " " 

u Varnish Size '' " 

*' *' Glue Size " - - " 

" '' Oil Stain " " 

" " " Spirit or Acid Stain 

Covers - 

" Pound " Paste Filler Covers .-- 



" 21 

" 22 

" 23 

" 24 



u 


25 


n 


26 


it 


27 


n 


28 


ti 


29 


4t 


30 


tt 


31 


ti 


32 


ii 


33 


it 


34 


ti 


35 


ti 


36 


it 


37 


it 


OQ 




Oti 


it 


39 


it 


40 


it 


41 


it 


42 


ti 


43 



One 



Gallon " Liauid Filler '' ...... 


<( 


ii 


44 


" " White Enamel Covers.. 


a 


ii 


45 


" Enamel Unclercoating 








Covers 


{( 


ii 


46 


" Paint and Varnish Re- 








mover Covers 


(( 


ii 


47 


" ** Calcimine Covers 


<< 


ii 


48 


'' Bronze '' 


(( 


ii 


49 


Pound of Tiffany Glazing- Color 








Covers 


(( 


ii 


50 


" " Starch 


a 


ii 


51 


To Figure the Amount of Labor 








for a Job 


n 


ii 


52 


What is a Day's Work? 








Painting Wood Trim 


it 


ii 


53 


Sm.ooth Plaster 








Walls 


ti 


ii 


54 


Sand Finished 








Walls 


a 


ii 


55 


Rough Stucco 








Walls 


it 


ii 


56 


" Canvas or Muslin.. 


(( 


ii 


57 


" ■ Wall Board 


(( 


ti 


58 


Sizing 


n 


ii 


59 


Enameling 


<< 


ii 


60 


Varnishing and Shellacing.... 


i( 


ii 


61 


Staining 


ii 


ii 


62 


Calcimining 


a 


ii 


63 


Bronzing 


a 


ti 


64 


Starching 


<< 


ii 


65 


Stippling 


<( 


ti 


QQ 


Filling Floors 


n 


ii 


67 


Waxing and Polishing 


ti 


ii 


68 


Preparing Surfaces 


ti 


ii 


69 


Washing 


n 


a 


70 


Tiffany Wall Glazing 


<( 


it 


71 


Stenciling 


ii 


ii 


72 


Time Required for Mixing.. 


ti 


ti 


73 



Making Up the Estoate--Inte- ^^ ^, 

rior-^Figure A „ ^^ ^^ ^^ 

Listing the Material ^^ ,, -rg 

Walls and Ceilings - ^^ ,, rjr^ 

Floors - — a a rjrg 

Wood Trim ^^ ,, ^^ 

Listing the Labor - - ,, ,, gQ 

Walls and Ceilings ^^ ,, g^ 

Floors - - « a go 

The Wood Tnm - ,, ,, g^ 

Mixing "--— 

The Estimate Complete --^Inte- ^^ ^^ 

rior--Figure "A .. ^^ 

CHAPTER V. PROFITABLE PRICES 

CHAFIJ^K _pj,i(.5, LISTS. ^, ,, g^ 

What is a Job Worth? -- ,, ,, g^ 

What Price Shall I Charge? ^^ ,, ^^ 

The Price Per Square Yard ^^ ^, 

The Prices Others Charge - ^^ ,, 

Time and Material Basis ^^ ,, 

Exterior Painting Prices ^^ ,, 

Interior Decorating Prices 

CHAPTER VI. THE MODERN PAINT SHOP. 



CHAPTER I. 
COUNT THE COST. 



Hordes of painters, like business men in other 
lines, seem to think they must be prospering if they 
are only doing a large business. If they can under- 
bid another man and succeed in getting a large con- 
tract from him they chuckle with glee, even though 
they have figured the price down so close that there 
is absolutely nothing left for profit, with the chance 
of coming out on the wrong side of the ledger. It 
seems a curious phase of the American character 
that this mania for doing a large business should 
so often be allowed to run away with good judg- 
ment, and the question of whether the business is 
a profitable one should be so frequently entirely 
overlooked. 

Many men, especially in the painting trade, have 
no idea whatever what it costs them to run their 
business. In some communities the estimates sub- 
mitted by the painters look like answers in a guess- 
ing contest rather than carefully calculated figures. 
The contractor who guesses too high loses the job 
while the one who guesses too low gets it without a 
profit. They figure that if they employ a man for 
$3 a day and can charge $3.50 for his time that they 
are making a profit of a half dollar on the work of 
that particular man, but they fail to take into 
account all the numerous items of shop expense 
which must be added to the wages paid to that man 
to get his actual cost to the employer. There is in- 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



surance, rent, interest on the cost of stock, wear and 
tear on scaffolds, tools, brushes, cartage, telephone, 
shopman^s wages, clerk hire and numerous other 
incidentals that must be paid for somehow before 
any profit can be realized from the wages of the 
workmen. In a shop employing an average of from 
ten to twelve men these shop expenses, leaving out 
all question of profit to the employer, will often 
amount to $7 or $8 a day, or some 75c per man. Yet 
the employing painter goes blindly on, figuring that 
he is making a profit when he charges his customers 
50c a day profit on the wages of each man. Perhaps 
he thinks he is covering the shop charges by the 
profit on material, but let hini figure it up carefully 
and he will find that this is seldom done. Yet he 
goes right along in the same old rut, taking a job 
for a low figure, because some other painter has 
offered to do it for that price, without even stopping 
to figure whether he will make a profit or not. He 
argues that if the other man can do it for that 
much money, certainly he can. Like as not the other 
man's low figure exists only in the mind of the cus- 
tomer, who is trying to beat down the price. This 
is too often the reason why painters are slow and 
uncertain pay, and why the manufacturers do not 
co-operate with them more readily to grant special 
trade discounts or similar favors that thoughtful 
men believe should be legitimately granted. 

Do some mental calculating as well as manual 
work ; sharpen up your pencil and figure everything, 
profits have gone. 

mates and he will also have to guess where his 
let the other fellow guess on his measuring and esti- 

9 



ESTIMATES, ( OSTS AND PROFITS 



Painting is a business and painters to be success- 
ful must adopt successful business methods, partic- 
ularly is this true of the contractor who employs a 
number of men. He is not a mechanic any more; 
he is a business man and needs a business organiza- 
tion just as much as a railroad or other big cor- 
poration. 

It may be argued and with more or less truth 
in a degree that if a contractor in some localities 
were to make up his estimates to include all costs 
and a fair profit after the method given in this text 
book he would get but few jobs. In such localities 
there are usually twice as many half trained journey- 
men who take contracts as can possibly exist oif 
the amount of business to be had in the locality. 
They are reduced by competition of their kind to 
taking contracts for a price that barely enables them 
to pay for materials and have journeyman's wages 
left. The paint business on such a low level of price 
cutting is a detriment to the community, to the 
individual property owner, to the journeymen and 
the competent contractors. If the property owners 
are very wise they may get the best of it by see- 
ing that pure materials and sufficient labor are con- 
sumed, they may superintend closely, but in most 
cases the house owner gets a low price, poor material 
and unskilled labox' — the job is skinned. Then the 
property all over the locality "runs down at the 
heel.*' The community appears to have chosen 
Peter Tumbledown as its ideal. 

The journeymen taking contracts make but a 
meager living. Transient painters drop off of pass- 

10 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

ing freight trains each Spring, take a few jobs away 
from the resident journeymen and add more poor 
work to the community to the disgust of the good 
citizens and the competent contractor works along 
on about half time because he thinks he must meet 
the prices of the journeymen taking contracts. He 
does not inspire the confidence of the house owner 
who figures that he must be the same kind of a 
painter as all the rest, — his prices are the same and 
he doesn't say anything about or prove that he can 
do better work. 

In a community like this a competent contractor 
with a desire to do good work at a fair profit has 
but to choose between two courses. Either he must 
get out of the town and go to a community that 
offers a better opportunity or he must stay where 
he is and resolve to fight it out at home. To choose 
the latter course means to precipitate a business war 
— a war of brains and wits, not of words and strife 
between contractors. 

You must break away from the crowd, — from the 
business practices of other contractors. Lay your 
plans carefully to win over the property owners of 
the locality and especially to get the newspaper edi- 
tor on your side. Be a good citizen. Join the busi- 
ness organizations and the commercial club. Do the 
very best work you know how — show an interest 
in your customers' work by trying conscientiously to 
give each customer all he is entitled to and a little 
more and when he asks for material that will not be 
satisfactory, for colors that will fade too soon or 
for a one-coat job where you know it will not serve 

11 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



well be frank and tell him that such a job could not 
stand well. When he wants you to paint over old 
paint that has cracked and scaled have the courage 
of the surgeon and attack the problem. Explain 
why new paint will not stand v/ithout scaling over 
such a foundation. People are v/illing to pay for 
quality work if you convince them you knovv^ your 
business and want to play fair. 

Study your business constantly. Even if you 
served your apprentice time and learned the trade 
from an expert master you v/iil learn much of 
modern problems and methods from the trade 
journals. If you didn't have the opportunity to 
learn from a good master painter get the best books 
and study, exi^eriment and practice. 

You must advertise constantly and in a thinking 
manner. Tell the community that it needs pure 
paint and an honest painter, state your desire to do 
only first class work, that you are capable of doing 
it and that naturally the price of a good job is a 
little higher than the cheap one. Make it clear 
that you could paint a house as cheaply as anyone by 
skinning on material and labor, but that you don't 
want that kind of contract because you expect to 
remain in the community, hold the respect and con- 
fidence of the people and have your home there. 

A year or two of good work, constant, intelligent 
advertising and an effort to get living prices for 
your work and you will be surprised to see the trans- 
formation. The journeymen who used to take con- 
tracts will be glad to get on your pay roll for steady 
work ; the bank will welcome you as any other pros- 

12 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



perous business man in town and you will have 
decided that the paint contractor has a business 
worthy of his metal and one that will insure a good 
income. 



13 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



CHAPTER II. 
FIGURING THE COST OF A JOB. 

Every job is worth all it costs — and a Profit. In 
making up an Estimate to submit for any kind of 
exterior or interior painting and decorating it should 
be divided into four sections — Material Cost, Labor 
Cost, Overhead Expense and Profit. 

Material Cost. 

Section No. 1. 

Each pound and gallon of material and every 
new tool completely used on a job should be charged 
against that job. The charge should be made on 
your record as the material leaves the shop. 
Material not used and returned may then be credited 
back. New tools not completely used on any one job 
ought not to be charged against the job at all, but 
rather included in Overhead Expense. Even such 
small items as sandpaper, steel wool, soap, starch, 
flour, glue, putty, etc., are important and should be 
charged for along with your lead, oil, varnish, stain, 
wallpaper, shellac, colors, bronzes and such of the 
larger material costs. See Sections Nos. 18 and 19. 

Labor Cost. 

Section No. 2. 

A job should be charged only with the direct 
labor — that is the labor directly consumed on that 
job alone and not with any part of the wages of shop 
man, teamster or truck driver, clerk or others 

14 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



indirectly employed, because their efforts apply on 
and assist the execution of other jobs going on at the 
same time. Indirect labor of this kind ought to 
be charged against Overhead Expenses and thus 
passed on to be distributed among many jobs. 
These many jobs will be future rather than present 
contracts to be sure, but present contracts are 
charged with the Overhead Expenses of past jobs 
completed if your Estimates and Prices were 
equitably and correctly figured. 

The time or labor of the contractor or employer 
is not charged against any one job unless he works 
on the job as a journeyman. 

The contractor's time for superintending the 
job is paid for in Profit. — See Section No. 4. Con- 
tractor's time when he works on the job as a jour- 
neyman should be charged against that particular 
job at the same rate he v/ould have to pay any other 
journeyman equally competent to do the work. In 
this instance he would get the Profit included in 
his Estimate for Superintending the job, for Interest 
on his money tied up in equipment and for the Risk 
assumed. Employers' Liability. He would also get 
wages as a journeyman. See Chapter III, Section 
Nos. 18 and 19, for details. 

Overhead Expenses. 

Section No. 3. 

Every expense of conducting your business that 
cannot be directly charged to one job or another is 
an Overhead Expense. For instance, when you buy 
five bales of hay for the horse or gasoline for the 

15 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

truck you cannot charge the outlay of money against 
Bill Jones' house which you happen to be painting, 
because the horse and wagon or the auto truck was 
used to haul the material. The transportation equip- 
ment was used on dozens of jobs during the season. 
The expense of maintaining your cartage facilities 
must be divided among all the jobs done. If, how- 
ever, you hire an expressman who charges $2.00 to 
haul your material to and from the Jones' job, that 
$2.00 is not an Overhead Expense but a direct charge 
to be made against the Jones' job. 

If you are among those contractors who to get 
the cost of a job merely add together the material 
and labor costs and then count everything else as 
profit, you ought to climb out of that rut at once. 
It keeps a man poor. 

When you charge against each job only the labor 
and material costs who is to pay such as the follow- 
ing expenses? 



16 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



INCLUDE THESE ITEMS IN YOUR 
Overhead Expense. 

RENT— Office, Shop, Garage, Barn. 

If you own the buildings charge rent for them 
in your Overhead Expense account, anyway at 
the rates they would bring if rented to someone 
else. 

LIGHT. 

HEAT. 

INSURANCE— Fire, Accident and Employers' Lia- 
bility. 

OFFICE EXPENSES— Clerk Salary, Postage, Print- 
ing, Typewriting, Telephone, Etc. 

ADVERTISING — Newspaper, Programs, Signs, 
Association dues and payments to local business 
organizations. Donations. 

CARTAGE — Amounts paid expressmen, except 
separate cartage that can be charged to any one 
job. Railroad Charges, Horse Feed, Livery or 
Garage Expenses, Gasoline used in auto trucks 
and all expenses incurred for transportation 
equipment. 

LOST ACCOUNTS— Bad Debts that probably will 
never be collected. Cost of collections. 

REPLACEMEN T — Maintenance, depreciation, 
breakage, wear and tear on tools, machinery and 
equipment, brushes, ropes, ladders, paint pots, 
drop cloths, sponges, etc. 

GENERAL EXPENSE— Include here any expense 
of conducting business that cannot be charged 
against any one job. 

INTEREST ON YOUR CAPITAL— The money in- 
vested in tools, material and equipment is a 
proper charge to include in the Overhead 
Expense. If you were to borrow the money to 
buy these things you would have to pay the 
banker at least 5% for it and you would take 
this b% out of the business. When the capital 
is your own money there is just as good reason 

17 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



to collect interest on it and pass the charge 
on to your customers through the Overhead 
Expense added to each Estimate. The same 
money invested elsewhere would bring you b% 
or 6% ; at least 3'/ from a bank. 



Overhead Expenses are legitimate and just as 
necessary as material and labor charges. Either 
you must pay them out of your profits or charge 
them to your customers by adding a certain amount 
or percentage to each Estimate. As long as you are 
conducting business for profit the second method of 
paying these expenses is correct. 

When your wagon, tools or equipment wear out 
you will then have saved enough money to replace 
them, if you have conscientiously added to the Esti- 
mate for each job a small amount in anticipation of 
this time. If you have not made this charge on each 
job you must buy the new equipment out of savings 
you thought were clear profit laid up for a rainy day. 
How to Figure the Overhead Charge. 

What amount then should be added to each Esti- 
mate for Overhead Expenses? 

Suppose, for example, you completed 40 con- 
tracts last year. Each one brought you $75.00. The 
total amount of money you received then was 
$3,000.00. 

Out of this $3,000.00 you paid : 

750.00 for Material. 
1,500.00 for Labor. 
200.00 for Overhead Expenses. 
550.00 was Profit. 



$3,000.00 

18 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Now to find out how much, or what percentage 
to add to each Estimate during the coming yeer 
divide the total amount of money received for ^\ 
work by the amount paid for Overhead Expenses- - 
the expense of conducting your business. In t) c 
example it w^ould figure this way : 
200)3,000(15% 
200 



1,000 
1,000 
To each and every Estimate you submit in tlie 
future then add 15% of the cost of labor and mate- 
rial. For instance : 

If the Material Cost is S30.00 

and if the Labor Cost is 60.00 



you add them together $90.00 

Then S90.00 
Find 15% 



45000 
9000 



$13.5000 
Then you have $90.00 for labor and material cost 
plus $13.50 Overhead, making $103.50. To this 
figure of $103.50 you must add a certain amount 
also for Profit before your estimate is complete. See 
Section No. 4. 

A Contractor who has no record of the previous 
year's business from w^hich to figure what amount 
to add to his Estimates for Overhead Expense must 
estimate as nearly as possible the number of jobs 
done, the amount of money received and the other 

19 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

odd expenses to figure on, or else take the figure 
of 15 '/r as the correct one for the first year. 
• The Association of Master Painters, the Con- 
tractors, of the city of Washington, D. C, made a 
study not long ago of the business of twelve different 
i)aint contractors in that city for the purpose of 
establishing a standard or uniform method for mak- 
ing up estimates and, more particularly, to determine 
what amount should be added to each Estimate 
for Overhead Expense. The volume of business done 
by these contractors ranged from $6,000 to $60,000 
gross per year in round numbers. The average 
amount of business for the twelve contractors was 
$16,244.00. The conclusion reached by the Associ- 
ation was that in their city it costs 15% to do busi- 
ness or to be exact 14-3/10%. In other v>^ords to get 
the real cost of a job they must add to the labor and 
material costs 15% of those amounts for Overhead 
Expense. Then the Profit is to be added. 

This 15% is given as an average amount for the 
city. In some cases it may be too small. On small 
repair w^ork 20% and even 30% is sometimes 
charged while on a large contract, of $25,000 for 
instance, 15% is to much. As stated 15% to 20% 
will be found a pretty good average. 

Profit. 

Section No. 4. 

After the Material Cost, Labor Cost and Over- 
head Expense have been figured it is necessary to 
add to the sum of these figures an amount for Profit 
before submitting an Estimate or Price. Do not add 
anything for your salary as contractor, the Profit 

20 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



takes care of that. 

Just how much to add for Profit must be decided 
by you. In the building trades the general con- 
tractor (carpenter) ..in Chicago suburbs is 

satisfied to figure actual cost as above and then add 
10% of this cost for Profit. With paint contractors 
in various sections of the country, however, the 
profit added to actual cost ranges from 10% to 30 S^ 
and 50%, according to the kind of work. Small odd 
jobs, repairs and such should carry a higher Profit 
than a large contract which might be best figured 
at 10-/( or less. Probably the addition of 20% to 
2b% for Profit is a good average for Vv^ork in general. 



Another Method of Figuring. 

Section No. 5. 

Overhead^ Profits, Labor and Material charges 
are sometimes figured on the basis of the selling 
price or the final figure on the Estimate rather than 
on the basis of actual Material and Labor cost as 
shown before. While this method is sometimes used 
the first one given is simple and just as effective. 

Taking the same figures used in the other 
example the calculation would work out this way : 

40 contracts at $75.00 each would bring a gTOSs 
volume of business amounting to $3,000. 

For Material you paid out of this $ 750.00 
For Labor " " " " " 1,500.00 
For Overhead " '' " " '' 200.00 

Net Profit was 550.00 



$3,000.00 



21 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



The difference in the two methods begins here. 
Add together the Material Cost and the Labor Cost: 
$ 750.00 
1,500.00 



$2,250.00 
Next divide this $2,250.00 by the Gross Volume 
of business— $3,000.00. 

^000)2250.00(75% 



21000 



15000 
15000 



By this we find that the Labor and Material Costs 
for the previous year were 757c of the total amount 
of business done, — the total amount of money taken 
in on contracts as shown by the Cash Book. 

Next find v/hat part or percentage of the total 
volume of business the Overhead Expense represents 
by dividing $200 by $3,000.00. 

3000) 200.00 (.0666 



18000 

2000 
18000 

2000 
Overhead Expense figures a Uttle over .0666+ 
but for the sake of dealing with round numbers cut 
off the fraction and call it even 7^ . 

Now figure what percentage of the Gross 
receipts the Profit was by dividing the Profit, — 3)550, 
by $3,000. 

3000) 550.00 (.1833 



22 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AN^D PROFITS 



The Profit was a little over .1833+ call it 18% 
even. 

The year's operations would then divide up as 
follows : 

Material and Labor Costs 75% $2,250. 

Overhead Expense 07% 210. 

Profit 18% 540. 



100% $3,000. 

Taking it for granted that you will be satisfied 
with the same profit this year as was realized last 
year — 18%, and that the Overhead Expense will 
remain the same it is quite simple to figure the Price 
to charge for each job this year. 

To find this Price to quote (the price that will 
include your 18% Profit and 6% Overhead) divide 
the Material and Labor Cost for any job (which 
represents 75% of the selling Price according to our 
figures for last year's business), by 75% and the 
result will be the price to charge. 

To illustrate let us say that the costs on a certain 
job are $200 for Labor and $100 for Material, mak- 
ing $300 for both. 

Then to find the Price to quote on the job divide 
the Labor and Material Cost by .75 thus : 
.75)300.00(400 
300 

$400 is the Price. 

It can be poved that $400.00 is the coiTect price 
to include the Costs and a Profit in this way. 
Out of this Price of $400.00 must come: 
7% for Overhead Expense which is-.$ 28.00 
18% for Profit which is .-... 72.00 



$100.00 

23 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



From the Price of $400.00 then subtract the sum 
of the Profit wanted and the Overhead Expense, 
which equals $100.00, and the balance of $300.00 is 
the necessary amount to cover the Material and 
Labor Costs. The division of the Price would then 
be: 

Material and Labor Costs 75%=$300.00 

Overhead Expense 07%= 28.00 

Profit - - 18%= 72.00 

Total ..$400.00 



24 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



CHAPTER III. 
MAKING AN ESTIMATE- 
EXTERIOR PAINTING. 

There are almost as many methods for esti- 
mating as there are contractors who estimate. The 
method used in the example to follow is probably 
the most simple one that is accurate. 

Contractors who have been making Estimates 
for years have usually reduced their systems to a 
few simple rules which they carry in mind. They 
can look a building over, measure it roughly and 
tell you it will take a man six days to first coat it 
and four days to finish it. They figure that a job 
containing 4,125 sq. ft., for instance, is 40 squares 
of 100 feet each. They have learned by long experi- 
ence in the locality that the Labor and Material 
Costs, the Overhead Expense and Profit on past jobs 
amounted to a certain figure per square; — let us 
say $1.50 per square for two coats and $2.00 per 
square for three coats. To give an Estimate these 
contractors simply multiply the 40 squares by $1.50, 
if the house is to have two coats, and give the owner 
an Estimate or Bid right on the spot amounting to 
$60.00. 

Such a practice is not the best even if it were 
possible for the contractor v/ithout much experience 
to follow it. The contractors who by their long 
experience are able to estimate as described are 
invariably men who are hard pressed for time, 

26 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



men who visit and inspect dozens of jobs per 
day. However, justified they may be in adopt- 
ing the short method to save themselves and 
handle a large volume of work the fact remains 
that the method does not provide accurate fig- 
ures for the file, checking invoices, sending bills 
and for future reference as to the amount of mate- 
rials and labor needed for each job. The note book 
carried by the contractor is saved usualy but until 
full it is always in his pocket and inaccessible to 
clerks or those running his office. And again, each 
job is, in a sense, figured twice, once when the Esti- 
mate is given and again when the bill is made out, 
or at least the surface must be figured over again 
to know how much materials to send out to the job. 
Both times require the personal attention of the 
contractor himself whereas if he had filled out a 
printed Estimate Blank when he first looked at the 
job and then turned it over to his clerk a permanent 
record would be on file from which instructions to 
the foreman, the bill of materials and the bill to the 
customer could be made out. The time sheets of the 
men and invoices for materials could also be checked 
here and any discrepancy noted either in cost or 
amount of material and labor. The contractor him- 
self would not be required to give so much of his 
own time to details which a clerk could do just as 
well under a proper system. More time is required 
to make out the Estimate Blank than to figure in a 
note book, but the advantage of having an accurate 
record of the cost, or the estimated cost, of each job 
is considerable and you also know the amount of 
profit on each job. 

27 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

Figure No. **X" is an average house both in 
size and shape. It is thought that the best way 
to make an estimating method clear in words is to 
actually submit an estimate for painting the house 
shown. The estimate will be based on labor and 
material market conditions at this writing. The 
method would be substantially the same for any 
building anywhere, but material and labor prices 
would necessarily be changed to accord with local 
conditions. 

Measuring the Building. 

Section No. 6. 

THE BODY. Starting at the nearest 
comer measure completely around the 
main body of the house with a tape hne, 
excluding porches, but include the rear 
addition. Write down on your estimate 
blank or note book the length of the 
first side — 24 feet, the length of the 
addition — 8 ft., the width of the rear 
end of the house — 22 ft., the length of 
the opposite side — 24 ft., length of the 
addition — 8 ft., and the width of the 
front— 22 ft. Then add together, 24+ 
8+22+24+8+22=108 ft. around the 
house. 

Now measure the height of the cor- 
ners to the eaves, using a long pole — 
a fish pole with a hook on the end is 
good, to fasten your tape line to and 
reach the top. This height will be 20 
feet for the house shown. 

To calculate the number of square 
feet in this main portion of the house 
multiply the circumference — 108 ft. by 
the height— 20 ft: 108x20= 2,160 sq. ft. 

28 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



It will be seen that no reduction has 
been made for window and door open- 
ings. Wall spaces are usually measured 
solid, it being estimated that the time 
consumed in cutting around sash, 
frames, etc., is as great as would be 
required in painting a smooth surface 
the size of the opening. If the open- 
ings are small and numerous, or if 
there are a gi'eat many small lights to 
be cut around, an additional charge of 
one or two cents per square yard is 
made. 

THE GABLES. Next measure the 
main roof gable. Crawl out on the 
porch roof and use the fish pole and 
t<ipe line. Get the distance from the 
peak or ridge down to a point level wdth 
the top of the corners where the roof 
joins under the eaves, — it will be 8 feet. 
We already know that the front is 22 
feet wide. The number of square feet 
in the gable will be found by multiply- 
ing one-half the height — 8 ft., — by the 
width— 22 ft.— 4 ft. X 22 ft— 88 sq. ft. 
for one gable. The two gables then 
measure 176 sq. ft. 

THE PORCH GABLE measures 4 
ft. high and the porch is 22 ft. vvide: 
2 ft. X 22 ft.= 44 sq. ft. 

THE FRONT PORCH. By measur- 
ing the front porch with the tape line 
you will fmd the size to be 10 ft. wide 
and 22 ft. long. The porch floor figures 
then 10 ft. X 22 ft.=- ^ 220 sq. ft. 

THE PORCH CEILING is the same 
size 220 sq. ft. 

THE FRONT STEPS measured will 
be found 8 ft. wide. To get the measure 

2*» 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



up and down fasten the end of your tape 
line at the edge of the porch fxoor. Then 
measure down the first riser to the top 
of the first tread, across the tread and 
down the second rise. Continue to the 
bottom and your total measure will read 
about 9 ft. The square measure then is 

8 ft. wide X 9 ft. high= 72 sq. ft. 

THE SIDE ENCLOSURE of the 
front steps will be found 41/0 ft. high by 
5 ft. long. The square measure is 

5 X 41/2= - 22 sq. ft. 

The tops and ends will measure: 
5 ft. long X 1 ft. wide=5 sq. ft. 
4 ft. high X 1 ft. wide=4 sq. ft. 

Per enclosure 9 sq. ft. 

Two enclosures 18 sq. ft. 

FRONT PORCH COLUMNS will 
measure: 1 ft. x 1 ft. x 7 ft. high=7 
sq. ft. per side. 4 sides at 7 sq. ft. 
each==28 sq. ft. 3 columns at 28 sq. ft. 

each= 84 sq. ft. 

If columns were round they could be 
measured with the tape line stretched 
around to get circumference. Then the 
reading from the tape in inches should 
be multiplied by the height in inches. 
For example if a round column 10 inches 
in diameter was measured with the tape 
it would be found to be 32 inches in cir- 
cumference. Then if it w-as 7 ft. high 
the calculation would be: 
32 in. X 84 in. (7 ft.) =2,688 sq. in. 
1 sq. ft.= 144 sq. in. 
Then 2,688 sq. in. — 144=18.66+ sq. ft. 
Call it 19 sq. ft. per column. 

THE PORCH CORNICE FACE. It 
will measure 1 ft. wide x 51 ft. around= 51 sq. ft. 

30 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



THE PORCH EAVES— Underside, 
will measure 21/2 ft. x 51 ft.== 127 sq. ft. 

THE SPINDLES AND PORCH 
RAIL should be figured as a solid flat 
surface of two sides. This will measure 
29 ft. long X 3 ft. high=87 sq. ft. per 
side. Two sides=-. -- 174 sq. ft 

THE LATTICE work below the 
front porch will measure 29 ft. long x 
41/2 ft. high=130 sq. ft. per side. Two 
sides^^ -- 260 sq. ft. 

THE CORNICE FACE on the main 
roof will be found to measure 12 inches 
on the fact and 118 ft. around the house 
all sides. The square measure then is 
1 ft. X 118 ft.= 118 sq. ft. 

THE CORNICE— UNDERSIDE or 
eaves on the main roof measure 2V^2 ^t. 
wide, the overhang. The square meas- 
ure to paint then figures 2^^2 x 118 ft. 
around the house— 295 sq. ft. 

THE REAR PORCH will measure 6 
ft. X 8 ft.= 48 sq. ft. 

THE REAR STEPS measure same 
as the front steps - - 72 sq. ft. 

TOTAL 4,161 sq. ft. 

It is customary to add 10% of the 
flat surface to the total to allow for the 
edges of siding 416 sq. ft. 

GRAND TOTAL AMOUNT OF 

SURFACE TO PAINT 4,577 sq. ft. 



31 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Measuring the Surface — From Plans. 

Section No. 7. 

Architects differ more or less in their general 
requirements for painting and decorating as set 
forth in specifications. They also vary considerably 
in the language used to specify different finishes and 
treatments. 

Some Specifications and plans are complete in 
every detail, — they show or mention everything that 
is to receive the paint contractors' attention but 
many specifications are not complete. Often the 
architect expects the painter to paint panel backs, 
storm sash and doors, backs of window frames, the 
underside of porch floors, basement store rooms, 
fruit cupboards, etc., not shovm on plans nor men- 
tioned in Specifications. 

The best way for you to proceed then is to go 
through the Plans and Specifications systematically 
and write down in your note book first every detail 
mentioned as your work. Make note of the number 
of coats, the color, kind of material, etc. 

Read over the Specifications for the Carpenter, 
Plumber, Millman and others, the plasterer's figures 
may be of help to you. Note in your book on an- 
other page any painting about the house that must 
be done sometime but not mentioned as your work. 
When you are sure your notes include everything, 
ask the architect who is to do these other jobs. Ask 
him also to explain any details about your work that 
were not made clear. It is a simple matter to adjust 
differences between your understanding of the 
Specifications and his before the work is done but 

32 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

not so after. Extras probably cause more difficulties 
to arise between painter and architect, owner and 
general contractor than any other feature of a con- 
tract. Here are some of the questions that ought 
to be clear in your mind before beginning the con- 
tract: 

Is the roof to be painted? Stained? If so, how 
many coats ? If stained are the shingles to be dipped 
only, dipped and brush coated or brush coated only ? 
What kind and color stain? Are you to do the dip- 
ping or v*^ill the carpenter contractor do it? How 
about the shingles on the side of the house — gable 
or second story ? Are they to be painted or stained ? 
Are you expected to do the glazing? Who furnishes 
the glass? Are there any wood sheds, barns or 
fences to be painted ? 

Reading Plans, 

Section No. 8. 

Each plan or blue print is drawn to scale, — that 
is, each inch, half-inch or quarter-inch on the plan 
represents a foot or stated number of feet on the 
finished building. 

Plans are always marked something Uke the 
plans for a bungalow shown here, thus :— **Scale for 
plans and elevations, 1 inch equals 4 feet. Details, 
1 inch equals 1 foot and 1 inch equals 2 feet or Y2 
inch equals 1 foot." To explain, this means that 
when you place a rule on the plans shown in Figure 
A, B, C and D every inch equals 4 feet on the fin- 
ished house. If you want to know how high the 
corners are lay your rule on the right hand corner 
of Figure B, and you will find that it measures 2^4 

33 



if^'-b"- 




±1- 



rcooR Flan 

FIGURE A 

I inch' ffxt . ^ii.c>< Ifjot. 




FRONT E'wCVAnON 

F{t»r«'C' 





FIGURE 



DE^<. Sk DooK CA3t5 

5cAi.«.'/i'-l-o" 

FIGURE 6 






cnzni^z] 



n 



|B, 



FIGURED 

CUPBOARDS 



♦•I-3 



.1 
of 

4- 




figuree; 





: H ^ StCTlON 

I-U.3 Fl^UREJ 

FftJURC I 



MKASIRF, HKKK 



FIGLRR -I. 




VKOtM) HOTM CASIN(;S 



MF.ASIRING CABLES 

MULTlfl.Y THK. 

WIDTH BV ONK 

HALF THE HEIGHT 

2» j;4FT.= MSO. FT. 



ESTLMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

inches. Then according to the scale (which says 1 
inch equals 4 feet) you would multiply 2^4x4, which 
amounts to 9. The side wall or corner then is 9 feet 
high up to the point where the roof joins the corner. 
The method used on plans to indicate feet and 
inches must be watched carefully as an expensive 
error may easily be made by mistaking feet for 

inches. 

Ten feet would be indicated thus 10' . 
Ten inches " " " " 10 ". 

A measurement reading 16' 0" x 1''4" means 16 feet 
and no inches by 1 foot and four inches. 

Painters often designate the measure of a surface 
as so many "Squares." A Square equals a space 
10x10 feet or 100 square feet. 

A square yard equals a space 3x3 or 9 square feet. 

A square foot, 12x12 inches, equals 144 square 
inches. 

The area of any flat surface to be painted is 
found by multiplying the heighth in feet by the 
width in feet. The result is square feet. 

Taking Off the Quantities. 

Section No. 9. Plans shown in Figures ''A/' ''B," 
"C." 
THE BODY. Looking at floor plan 
Figure "A" it will be seen that the 
building is 38 ft., 6 in. long and 38 ft., 
6 in. wide. The circumference around 
the house would then measure: 

One Side 38J/> ft. 

" " 38«/> ft. 

Front 38«/> ft. 

Back 38V-i ft. 



154 ft. around the house. 



34 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Now measure the right hand corner 
on the Side Elevation, Figure "B," and 
it will show 2^/4 in, high to where the 
roof joins. The Scale shown on the 
Plan says 1 in. equals 4 ft., so 2^4 x 4= 
9 ft. high. 

The side walls, the rear and front 
measure 154 ft. around and 9 ft. high. 
The square measure then is 9 x 154=1,386 sq. ft. 

THE GABLES on the Side Eleva- 
tions. "To figure the area of any gable 
multiply the width by one-half the 
height." For the plan we are figuring 
the length of the house from corner to 
corner will be the base or width of the 
gables — the floor plan. Figure "A," 
shows this measure to be 881/2 ft. To 
get the height of the gable place your 
rule across the plan parallel to the floor 
line on the Side Elevation, Figure *'B," 
but at the top of the corners where they 
join the roof. Draw a light pencil line 
there. Now lift the rule and measure 
from the ridge pole down to the pencil 
line just made. You will find that it is 
just 2 inches. According to the Scale on 
the plan then (1 in. equals 4 ft.) the 
height of gable is 2 x 4=8 ft. 

Now the formula given to get the 
area of a gable says multiply the width, 
38 1/2 ft., by one-half the height, 8 ft. 
The calculation then is 38V2 x 4=154 sq. 
ft. There are two gables, one on each 
side, so we must multiply 154 x 2= 308 sq. ft. 

35 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



THE PwOOF CORNICE FACING. 
The Side Elevation, Figure "B," shows 
the cornice to be 2 in. thick and 10 in. 
wide. Add these figures, 10-{-2=12 in. 
Nov/ measure the length of this cornice 
from one end up to the ridge and down 
to the other end and you will find that it 
is 121/4 in. long. Using the scale again — 
(1 in. equals 4 ft.) to find the length of 
the cornice in feet multiply 12i/|x4=49 
ft. The plan shows that the width and 
thickness of the cornice are 10 in. and 

2 in., which makes the equivalent of a 
board 12 inches or one foot wide to 
paint. The square measure on the 
cornice then is 1 ft. wide x 49 ft. long-= 
49 sq. ft. There is another cornice on 
the other side of the house so w^e must 

multiply 49 sq. ft. by 2= 98 sq. ft. 

THE EAVES or underside of the 
Roof Cornice, according to Figure "B," 
overhangs % of an inch. The Scale 
on the Plan says 1 in. equals 4 ft., so 
34 in. must equal 1 ft. The Eaves then 
overhang 3 ft. — they are 3 ft. wide. 
Measuring the Roof on Figure "B" from 
the front to the rear over the ridge our 
rule reads 11% in., which figures — 
(1 in. equal 4 ft., 14. in. equals 1 ft.) 
Il%x4=47 ft. long. The underside of 
the Eaves is 2 ft. less than the cornice 
facing. 

We figured above that the Eaves are 

3 ft. wide so to get the number of square 
feet in one side we now multiply 47 ft. 
long X 3 ft. wide=141 sq. ft. There are 
two sides the same size so we multiply 

141 sq. ft. X 2= 282 sq. ft. 

36 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Figure *'C" measures across the 
Roof 10% in. 10'% in. equals 43 ft. on 
the Scale. The Eaves in the front and 
rear overhang the same measure as the 
sides — 3 ft. The square measure then 
is 43 ft. X 3 ft.=129 sq. ft. Multiply 
this by 2 for front and rear and we have 
2x129=...... 258 sq. ft. 

THE RIDGE BOARDS on the peak 
of the roof measured with the rule 
show 10% in. long on the plan which 
figures according to scale 43 ft. The 
width of the boards does not show 
sufficiently to measure on the plan but 
they are probably 6 in. wide on each side 
of the ridge which makes a surface to 
be painted of 1 ft. x 43 ft.=. 43 sq. ft. 

THE FRONT PORCH. Figure ''A" 
shows the floor to be 8 ft. v/ide and 38 '/i 
ft. long. The square measure then is 
381/2x8=.-. - 308 sq. ft. 

THE PORCH CEILING is the same 
size as the floor 308 sq. ft. 

THE PORCH COLUMNS. Figures 
"B" and "C" show that there are 6 
columns 8x8 in. square. Measuring on 
the plan with the rule the columns are 
% of an in. high, which (on the Scale 
which says 1 in. equals 4 ft., and 14 i^^- 
equals 1 ft.) means that the columns are 
3 ft. high. The columns being 8 in. on 
each side will measure 32 in. around 
all four sides ; 32 in. is very near 3 ft., so 
call each column 3 ft. around and 3 ft. 
high. The square measure then is 
3x3=9 sq. ft. for each column. There 
are 6 columns so multiply 9x6= 54 sq. ft. 



37 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



THE FRONT PORCH COLUMN SUP- 
PORTS or pedestals measure on Figures 
"B" and ''& about % in. wide and 1 in. 
high. Transposing this by the Scale 
given it figures about 2^/2 ft. wide by 4 
ft. high. 21/2x4=10 sq? ft. per side. 
There are three sides (1 side was in- 
cluded when measuring the side of 
body) =30 sq. ft. for each support. 
There are two supports so we multiply 
30x2= [. 60 sq. ft. 

THE FRIEZE BOARD above run- 
ning across the top of the front porch 
above the columns measures 1 ft. v/ide 
X 381/2 ft. long. The number of square 
feet then is lx38V2 so we will call it 39 sq. ft. 

THE WEATHER BOARDING 
enclosing the space belov/ the front 
porch fioor mxeasures in front 1 ft. x 33= 33 sq. ft. 

The side or end boarding was in- 
cluded when measuring the sides of the 
body. 

THE STEP ON FRONT PORCH 
measures 1x1x8 ft. and the square 
measure is= 18 sq. ft. 

THE REAR PORCH. Figure "A" 
shows it to be 31/2x4 ft.=-... 14 sq. ft. 

THE STEP TREAD AND RISERS 
are 31/2x1 ft.=3i/2 sq. ft. each for 1 
tread and two risers. 3x31/^=101/2 sq. 
ft., so call it. ...! 11 sq. ft. 

THE TWO SILLS on the porch sides 
measure 1x4=4 sq. ft. each. There are 
two — so multiply 4x2= 8 sq. ft. 

THE REAR PORCH RAIL. Two 
pieces 4x4 in. x 214 ft. high are equal 
to 1 piece 5 ft. long or 60 in. long by 

38 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



16 in. wide. Then 16x60=960 sq. in. 
144 sq. in. equal 1 sq. ft., so divide 960 
by 144 and you get 6 2/3 sq. ft., so 

call it 7 sq. ft. 

Then the plan shows 4 pieces of 
2x4 in. X 31/2 ft. long, which are equiva- 
lent to one piece 14 ft. long. A 2x4 in. 
piece measures 12 in. or 1 ft around all 
four side — 2+4+2+4=12 in., so you 
have the equal of a surface 1 ft. x 14 ft. 
to paint. 1x14= 14 sq. ft. 



TOTAL 3,249 sq. ft. 

Add 10% of the flat surface to 
allow for the edges of the sid- 
ing or weather boarding 324 sq. ft. 

TOTAL SURFACE TO 

PAINT 3,573 sq. ft. 



To Figure the Amount of Material for a Job. 

Section No. 10. 

How Many Gallons from a Mix? 

Section No. 11. 

A 100 lb. keg of white lead bulks about 2% gal- 
lons. Then if you are mixing a batch of paint for 
old outside work it would figure about like this: 
White Lead, 100 lbs.=2'% gals. Cost $8.00 

Linseed Oil =41/2 " '' at 70c 3.15 

Turpentine, 1 pt. = % '' " at 60c .07 

Japan Drier, 1 pt. = % " " .40 



Total 71/2 gals. Cost $11.62 

$11.62 divided by 7y2=$1.54 cost per gallon for 
white paint. If tinting colors are used add their 
bulk and cost to above figures. 



l^ 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

How Much Surface Will One Gallon Cover? 

Section No. 12. 

The number of square feet covered by a gallon 
differs according to the kind and color of paint, the 
kind of surface, whether the thinner is oil, turpen- 
tine or varnish and to what extent it is brushed out. 

A fine pigment will cover more surface than a 
coarse one. 

An opaque pigment will hide or cover better than 
a semi-transparent pigment. 

A dark colored paint will cover more surface 
than white and light tints. 

Thin paint covers a greater surface than thick 
but does not hide the surface as well. 

A gallon of any paint will cover less on a soft, 
porous, dry surface than on a hard, well-filled 
surface. 

By brushing the paint out to the limit any paint 
will cover more surface than when it is simply 
flowed on or when brushed out ordinarily well. 

Careful records made of painting done under 
ordinary working conditions with pure white lead 
and hnseed oil paint show that the below figures 
are conservative and form a good basis upon which 
to figure Estimates. These figures do not repre- 
sent the amount of surface covered per gallon for 
the priming coat alone, nor for the second coat alone, 
but rather each figure is an average between the two 
coats and includes both working from the ground 
and from a ladder. The proportion of the surface 
painted from the ground and from the ladder being 
the same as would occur when painting the average 
house. They include also the painting of window 

41) 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

and door casings, corner boards and such trim as 
ordinarily occurs on the side of a house. 

Weatherboarding. 

White Paint and Light Tints cover about 300 to 
425 sq. ft. per gal., 1 coat. 

Gray, Tan, Buff, Drab, Etc., cover about 300 to 500 
sq. ft. per gal., 1 coat. 

Smooth Matched Boards. 

White Paint and Light Tints cover about 500 
sq. ft. per gal., 1 coat. 

Gray, Tan, Buff, Drab, Etc., cover about 660 
sq. ft. per gal., 1 coat. 

Brick. 

White Paint and Light Tints cover about 225 
sq. ft. per gal., 1 coat. 

Gray, Tan, Buff, Etc., cover about 300 to 700 sq. 
ft. per gal., 1 coat. 

Concrete. 

Concrete surfaces as the forms come off and 
which have not been resurfaced with cement figure 
same as Brick. 

Rough Cast and Stucco surfaces require consid- 
erably more paint: Gray, Tan, Buff, Drab, Etc., 
covers about 225 sq. ft. per gal., 1 coat. 

To Figure the Amount of Labor for a Job. 

Section No. 13. 

What is a Day's Work? 

Section No. 14. 

How much surface will an average journeyman 
coat per hour and in a day of 9 hours? A distinc- 
tion should be made between the amount of work 
a man can do in a contest or if he knows he is being 
recorded and the amount he will do day in and day 
out under average conditions. 

41 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

Considerable difference exists in the number of 
square yards that will be coated by different 
journeymen in an hour or day. If you will figure 
the number of square yards coated in a day of nine 
hours by a gang of six men, for instance, and divide 
this number by six you are bound to get a fair 
average amount of work one man will do in nine 
hours. And then the number of square yards 
coated in 9 hours by one man divided by 9 will give 
the number of square yards an average journey- 
man will coat in one hour. Or keep a record of liie 
number of square feet one man paints on several 
different jobs, different colors, kinds of lumber, 
weather and such conditions. Then add together 
the total number of square feet on all the jobs, also 
add together the total number of hours put in by 
the one man. Now divide the number of square 
feet by the number of hours and the result 
is the average number of square feet a painter will 
cover per hour. If you have a 9 hour day multiply 
that per-hour figure by 9 and you have the number 
of square feet a man will paint per day on an 
average. 

Unquestionably it is better for each contractor 
to keep a record accurately of his jobs for a while 
and thus be able to establish his own standards, his 
own figures as to what is a day's work under con- 
ditions in his market than to use figures worked out 
in any other locality. 

In order to give the new contractor some figures 
to start on and at least a fairly accurate basis upon 
which to figure his estimates the below figures are 

4 2 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

given. They are not estimates or guesses but were 
arrived at in this way. The figures used by nine 
different contractors were added together. Some 
of these contractors do business in towns of about 
500 population, some 10,000 and others in large 
cities : — 

per hv.. 1 coat 



<»ue Conti-JK 


'tor 


ligun's 


liis 


jnfii ] 


paint lOS .v.j. ft. p 

i.w 

744 .. 

i.sn " " ' 

140 '^ 


«< « 










108 " " ' 
9)1326(147 sq. ft. 



Dividing 1,326 sq. ft. by 9 (there were 9 con- 
tractors) we find that the average man employed by 
all probably paints about 147 square feet per hour. 

It should be stated here: — 

that no two journeymen will paint the same amount 
of surface per hour or per day, 

that surfaces differ according to the kind and con- 
dition of the lumber or old paint, 

that a man will cover more surface per hour with 
dark colored paint than with Vviiite and light 
tints, 

that the size and quality of the brush has an influ- 
ence, 

that the paint itself has an important bearing — as 
some pigments are coarse, they drag on the brush 
and don't hide the surface or spread easily, 

that paint spreads out more freely and easily in 
warm than in cold weather, 

that a dry, weather-beaten surface is slow to paint, 

that a man will cover more surface working from 
the ground that from a ladder or scaffold. 

But, — in spite of all of these differences it is 
possible and necessary to find an average amount of 

43 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

surface, as it ordinarily runs, which an average 
journeyman will paint per hour and per day. 

The tabulation of figures to follow may be taken 
as reliable and conservative. The work was accom- 
plished under ordinary average conditions by a 
journeyman who is if anything a triflle slow but 
thorough. He was not trying to make a record. A 
4 in. wall brush was used for all work. 

Weatherboarding. 

150 sq. ft. per hour, 1 coat Cray, Tan, Cream, Etc. 
1,350 " *' '' day of 9 hours. 

Smooth Matched Pine Boards. 

200 sq. ft. per hour, 1 coat Gray, Tan or Cream. 
1,800 " " '' day of 9 hours. 

Brick, 

132 sq. ft. per hour, 1 coat Kght tints. 
1,188 " " '' day of 9 hours. 

Cement Surfaces. 
Ordinary concrete as it comes from the forms 
without having been resurfaced, figure the sam.e as 
for Brick. 

Rough Cast or Cement Stucco. 

110 sq. ft. per hour, 1 coat, light tints. 
990 *' *' '' day of 9 hours. 



Painting Difficult Surfaces— Extra Labor. 

Section No. 15. 

Consider the difficulty of getting at the work and 
then make an estimate. A third-story cornice is, of 
course, more difficult to paint, it will take more time 
than a first-story. Men will always brush on more 

44 



ESTIRIATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



paint while working on the ground than from stag- 
ing, ladders and scaffolds. Fear of falling and the 
difficulty of reaching part of the surface cut down 
the number of square feet painted per day per man 
materially. 

Having these facts in mind while estimating the 
time reciuired to paint a cornice, for instance, allow 
time and a half for a first-story cornice, double time 
for second story, triple time for third story and so 
on. Consider also that a cornice having many brack- 
ets and mouldings or considerable carving consumes 
more time in the painting than a plain cornice. 

The following surfaces require extra time if not 
much extra material and more time should be figured 
for such details than for painting flat surfaces of 
equal area. Estimate or measure the time needed 
to paint the same number of square feet of fiat 
surface as is contained in a window blind, for 
instance. Then when figuring time for blinds double 
or triple the amount needed for a flat plain surface 
according to how the blind is paneled or slatted, 
which makes painting slow. 

You will always find many kinds of odd jobs for 
which there is no set or worked-out plan in esti- 
mating. Even the below list of common details and 
suggestions for the time to allow for each permit 
of your exercising good judgment according to the 
exact nature of the work. 

First figure the following as plain, flat surfaces 
and then add to the time for painting each as sug- 
gested : 

45 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



— Allow — 

Blinds Double Time. 

Shutters Time and One-Half. 

1 Double, Triple or Quad- 
Fancy Cornices [ ruple if second or third 

J story — hard to reach. 

Moulding-s -—Time and One-Half. 

Grills Double or Triple Tim.e. 

Lattice Work Triple Time. 

Brackets (Time and One-Half or 

} Double. 

Doors Double Time. 

Door and Window Casings.Time and One-Half. 

W^indow Sash, Plain. Time and One-Half. 

Window Sash, Fancy Double to Triple Time. 

Porch or Stair Balus- 1 

trades, including [Quadruple Time. 

Top and Bottom Rail J 

Columns, Flutv^d Time and One-Half. 

Columns, Paneled Double Time. 

Tin Roofs, if seams ] 

are to be scraped I Double Time. 

and washed ....] 

Shingle Roof ....Time and One-Half. 

Ceilings, Wood Wains- (Time and One Half, 
cotmg ) 

Ceiling, Steel, Simple | Double Time. 

Design ( 

Ceilings, Steel, Fancy (Triple Time. 

Design ...( 

Ceilings, Steel, if walls 1 

not painted at the [Quadruple Time. 

same time j 

Stairs Double Time. 

Hand Rails Double Time. 

Steps— Treads and double Tim.e. 

Risers \ 

46 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

Double to Quadruple Time. 



Double to Six Times. 



Rain Gutters and 
Spouts, according to 
difficulty of reaching 

Steeples, Domes, Cupo- 
las and Towers, ac- 
cording to diffi- 
c u 1 1 y of reach- 
ing 

Trellis Double or Triple Time. 

Fences, Picket Quadruple Time. 

Fences, Plain Board Double Time. 



Time Required Setting Stages, Ladders and 
Scaffolds. 

Section No. 16. 

More or less time is consumed getting things 
ready to paint. Ladders, scaffolds and stages must 
be set and moved around, so an allowance of time 
must be added also to the Estimate for this work. 
You are the best judge as to how much time to add. 

Figure in the time for both erecting and taking 
dov n staging, scaffolds, etc., according to the diffi- 
culty of the work. 

Time Required for Mixing Colors. 

Section No. 17. 

Where a man is not employed to remain at the 
shop and mix the paint for all jobs the time of the 
man on the job required to do the mixing should be 
added to the actual time figured to coat the surface. 
The amount of time consumed to do the mixing 
differs, of course, according to the number of colors 
to be mixed and the time taken by the lady of the 
house to decide. The task will seldom require less 

47 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



than half an hour and will range from that to two or 
three hours. Use your judgment as to how much 
time will be consumed in this w^ay on each job. 

Burning and Scraping Scaled Paint. 

Section No. 18. 

All preparatory w^ork of this nature should be 
day work on the time and material basis. The labor 
or time required to remove old paint and prepare a 
surface for repainting where the old paint is crack- 
ing and scaling cannot be even fairly well estimated 
before the work is performed. Certain kinds of 
paint can be stripped off continuously like a banana 
peel while the paint on other jobs where there have 
been many coats of hard pigment put on from time 
to time the scraping is slow work, as the old coats 
must be dug off a foot or two at a time. On windy 
days it is difficult to keep the surface hot with a 
torch and the v/ork goes slowly. The skill of the 
mechanic doing the work is also a factor to be 
figured on. There is quite a little knack to handling 
the torch and scraper rapidly. 

Extras. 

Section No. 19. 

Make it a point always to ask if the Roof, Blinds, 
Storm Sash and Doors, Screens, Fence, Barn, Foun- 
dation or other work of this nature is to be painted 
and include in your Estimate. 

Burning and scraping off scaled paint, prep^T- 
ing such a surface, ought to be considered an extra 
and figured on the tim.e and material basis. 

Your letterhead and other stationery should have 

48 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

printed on them at the top or bottom that the above 
items are properly extras and will be charged for as 
such unless mentioned and included in the original 
estimate. 



Making Up the Estimate — Exterior. 

For House in Figure No. *'X." 

Section No. 20. 

LISTING THE MATERIAL. By referring back 
to Section No. 6 it will be seen that the surface to be 
painted on this house amounts to 4,577 square feet. 
It is not a new house so probably two coats of paint 
would be put on. 

The first step is to figure the amount of material 
needed. In Section No. 12 it will be seen that when 
painting weather-boarding a gallon of paint usually 
covers about 500 sq. ft., one coat if the color selected 
is about as dark as Gray, Tan, etc. We will then find 
out how many gallons of paint are needed by divid- 
ing the number of square feet to be painted (4,577) 
by the amount of surface one gallon of paint may 
be expected to cover (500). 

500)4577(9.15+ 

We find that a trifle over 9 gallons are needed 
for one coat, or 18 gallons for two coats. 



It should be kept in mind that 100 lbs. of white 
lead will make from 7 to 10 gallons of paint, accord- 
ing to how mixed. See Section No. 11. We know 
then that this job will need at least 200 lbs. of lead. 



4<) 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Suppose it is mixed as follows to make a gray paint ; 

200 lbs. white lead 51/2 gals. 

4 " raw umber 14 ** 

A little lampblack. 

9 gals, linseed oil 9 ** 

1 " turpentine 1 

16 gals. 



The formula to make the shade of gray selected 
gives us but 16 gallons of paint and we need 18 gal- 
lons. We will add to the formula then about 25 lbs. 
of lead, 1/2 lb. raw umber and 2 gallons of oil, which 
will produce roughly about 214 gallons of paint and 
make the total the 181/^ gallons needed. 



Other materials needed in addition to that 
included in the formula given are: 

2 lbs. putty, 
1 pt. shellac, 
6 sheets sandpaper. 



LISTING THE LABOR. The slow or difficult 
work on this house (Figure X) consists of the 
details below. It will require a longer time to paint 
these surfaces than an equal area of weather- 
boarding because they are hard to get at. Figure 
extra time for such work as per Section No. 15. 

5» 



n it 



n it 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Eaves, Front Porch= 127 sq. ft, 

This is a plain cornice. 
Figure- time and one-half, 

127x11/2= -- 190 

Cornice Face, Front Porch= 51 

Figure time and one-half, 

51x11/2= - 76 

Spindles, top and bottom rail on 

Front Porch= 174 " " 

Figure quadruple time, 

174x4= 696 " ** 

Lattice— Front Porch= 260 '' " 

Figure triple time, 260x3=.... 780 '' " 

Eaves, Main Roof=. 295 '' " 

Figure time and one-half, 

295x11/2= 442 " '* 

Cornice Face, Main Roof= 118 " " 

Figure time and one-half, 

118x11/2= 177 '' '* 

2,361 sq. ft. 

1,025 sq. ft. 



It should be noted now that the figure 1,025 sq. ft. 
is the correct area of surface for all of these details 
while 2,361 sq. ft. is the area which represents the 
extra time needed to paint these details. In other 
words the 1,025 sq. ft. of surface are so hard or 
slow to get at that it takes as much time, but not 
as much material, to paint 1,025 sq. ft. so located as 
it does to paint 2,361 sq. ft. of surface easy to get at. 

51 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

In Section No. 14 you will find that an average 
journeyman will paint about 150 sq. ft. per hour, 
one coat, with a gray paint on weather-boarding. 
To calculate the total number of hours labor required 
to paint all of these slow or difficult details we divide 
the area 2,961 sq. ft. by the number of sq. ft. per 
hour that one man may be expected to paint, — 150. 

Divide 2,361 sq. ft. by 150 and you have 15.74. 
A little less than 15% hours are needed to paint the 
difficult work on the house. Call it 16 hours. 

The total area of the whole house including the 
difficult details just figured is given in Section No. 6 
as 4,577 sq. ft. Before we attempt to figure the 
labor time for painting the house, except the above 
difficult details which we just figured would require 
16 hrs. to paint, we must deduct the correct area 
of such details (1,025 sq ft.) from the total, — that is 
4,577 minus 1,025=3,552 sq. ft. 

We expect a journeyman to paint 150 sq. ft. of 
this surface per hour, one coat. Dividing 3,552 by 
150 we find that 23.68 hours, call it 24 hours, are 
needed to paint the surface, not including the diffi- 
cult portions of the work figured above as requiring 
16 hrs. 

The time one man would take to paint this house 
one coat then is 16 hours for the slow difficult work 
such as the cornice, lattice, etc., and 24 hours for 
the body and details not difficult to get at, 16 hours 
plus 24 hours=40 hours in all. The house is to have 
two coats, so 80 hours are needed by one man, or 
40 hours by two men. 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



The time to allow for everything about the job 
then is: 

Painting 80 hrs. 

Mixing Paint 2 " 

Handling Ladders, Etc 2 ** 

Putty and Clean-up 2 " 



Total 86 hrs. 

When it is necessary to burn and scrape off all 
or part of old paint this work should be designated 
in writing as an "extra" at the time your price is 
given to the house owner. To be charged for on the 
time and material basis. You cannot guess or esti- 
mate the time needed to prepare a surface of this 
kind. 



53 



The Estimate Complete. 

Exterior House, Figure "X" 

Section No. 21. 
The Material Prices and Wage Scale of 50c per 
hour used will, of course, change according to con- 
ditions in different localities but the method of 
figuring should remain the same anywhere. 
Material Cost. 

White Lead, 225 lbs., at 8c a lb $18.00 

Linseed Oil, 11 gals., at 70c gal 7.70 

Turpentine, 1 gal., at 60c gal 60 

Colors, 41/2 lbs., Raw Sienna, at 22c lb 99 

Putty, 2 lbs., at 31/2C lb 07 

Shellac, 1 pt .25 

Sandpaper, 6 sheets 06 

$27.67 

Labor Cost. 

86 hours at 50c per hour , $43.00 

Overhead Expense. 

Add 15% of Material Cost $27.67 

Labor Cost 43.00 



$70.67 

.15% 

35335 
7067 



$10.6005 $10.60 
Profit. 

Add whatever per cent, or amount you 
think you ought to have. For an il- 
lustration we will add as profit 20% 
of:— 

Material Cost $27.67 

Labor Cost 43.00 



$70.67 
.20% 



$14.1340 
For Profit.,- $14.13 



Price to give House Owner $95.40 

54 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Making up the Estimate — Exterior. 
For Bungalow in Figure "A," "B," "C." 

Section No. 22. 

LISTING THE MATERIAL. Section No. 9 
shows that the surface area to be painted is 3,573 
sq. ft. 

Section No. 12 shows that on w^eather-boarding 
a gallon of paint of Light Gray, Tan, Buff or Drab 
color may be expected to cover about 500 sq. ft. one 
coat. 

To calculate the number of gallons of paint needed 
then divide 3,573 sq. ft. by 500 and the result — 
7.12+ is the number of gallons, — call it 7 gallons 
even, or 14 gallons for two coats. 

One hundred pounds of v/hite lead makes from 
7 to 10 gallons of paint, according to colors and thin- 
ners used. Assuming that the color w^anted is a 
Drab the formula would be about like this : 

White Lead, 100 lbs.=23/^ gals. 

French Ochre, 2 lbs. 

Raw Umber, 2 lbs. 

Linseed Oil 4^/2 gals. 

Turpentine y^ gals. 



Produces 7% gals, paint for 1 coat 

Two coats, double above material and you w'ill 
get 151/2 gallons of paint. Other materials needed 
are: 

Putty, 2 lbs. 

Shellac, 1 pint. 

Sandpaper, 6 sheets. 

LISTING THE LABOR. The slow or difficult 
work on this house (Figure "A," *'B," *V) consists 
of the following details. It wall require a longer time 
to paint these surfaces than an equal area of 
weather-boarding because they are hard to get at. 

55 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Figure extra time for such work as per Section 15. 

COPwNICE FACING== 98 sq. ft. 

Figure Time and One- 
Half, 98x11/2= 14'^ sq. ft. 

EAVES, SIDES= 282 " " 

Figure Time and One- 
Half, 282x11/2- 42 

EAVES, Front and Rear=-.258 " " 
Figure Time and One- 
Half, 258x13/2= 387 

RIDGE BOARDS= 43 

Figure Time and One- 
Half , 43x1 1/2- 64 " " 






(( It 



1,021 sq. ft. 



681 sq. ft. 
The figure, 681 sq. ft., is the actual measure of 
the surface to paint, while 1,021 sq. ft. represents 
the basis upon which to figure the time. In other 
words the 681 sq. ft. are so hard or slow to get at 
that it takes as much time to paint 681 sq. ft. so 
located as it does to paint 1,021 sq. ft. of surface 
easy to get at. 

In Section No. 14 you will find that an average 
journeyman will paint about 150 sq. feet per hour, 
one coat, witli Gray paint on weather-boarding. 

To calculate the time required to paint the above 
listed slow details divide the area of all — 1,021 sq. 
ft. by 150. This figures 6.80+ hours or nearly 7 
hours ; call it 7 hours. 

The total area of surface to paint on the entire 
house is 3,573 sq. ft. We have already figured the 
time required to paint part of this, — the slow work 
amounting to 681 sq. ft., so we shall deduct 681 from 
3,573 leaving 2,892 sq. ft. 

56 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



To find the number of hours time required to 
paint this last figure v^^e divide 2,892 by 150 sq. ft. 
and the result is 19.28 hours; call it 20 hours for 
one man to apply one coat. 

We have then 7 hours for painting the slow 
details and 20 hours for coating the balance. A 
total of 27 hours for the whole house for one coat 
by one man. Two coats would then require 54 hours 
for one man to accomplish the work. Two men 
would do it in 27 hours. 

The time to allow for everything about the job 
then is : 

Painting 54 hrs. 

Mixing 2 " 

Handling Ladders, etc 1 " 

Putty and Clean Up 2 " 

Total 59 hrs. 



57 



The Estimate Complete. 
Exterior Bungalow, Figure "A," "B," "C." 

Section No. 23. 
The material prices and the wage scale of 50c 
per hour used will, of course, change according to 
conditions in different localities, but the method of 
figuring should remain the same anywhere. 
Material Cost. 

White Lead, 200 lbs., at 8c lb $16.00 

French Ochre, 4 lbs., at 9c. lb 36 

Raw Umber, 4 lbs., at 14c lb .56 

Linseed Oil, 9 gals., at 70c gal.... 6.30 

Turpentine, 1 gal., at 60c gal 60 

Putty, 2 lbs., at Sy^c lb .07 

Shellac, 1 pint .25 

Sandpaper, 6 sheets.. .06 

$24.20 
Labor Cost. 

59 hours at 50c per hour $29.50 

Overhead Expense. 

Add 15v; of: 

Material Cost $24.20 

Labor Cost 29.50 



$53.70 

.15% 



26850 
5370 



$8.0550 $ 8.05 
Profit. 

Add whatever percent or amount you 
think you ought to have. For an 
example we will add 20% of: 

Material Cost $24.20 

Labor Cost 29.50 



$53.70 

.20% 



$10.7400 
For Pi ofit .$10.74 



Price to give House Owner ...$72.49 

38 



ESTIMATE BLANK 



No. _ 

Name 



Address 



Description of Property. 
Work to be done 



Date 



191 



No. sq. feet outside 

Color Scheme — Body._ 
Conditon of Surface_ 



MATERIAL 



.No. sq.feet inside. 
Trim 



COST:- 

Ibs. white lead at 

gals. Hnseed oil " 

" turpentine " 

pts drier " 

lbs. color " 

gals, varnish ** 



Total $. 

LABOR COST, . . . hours at . .cents-$. 

OVERHEAD EXPENSE, add percent--15?-$„ 

PROFIT, add _ percent--25.?--$. 
Price to Customer $ 



Tear off here 



Date 



191 



Mr. , 

I will do the painting —or decorating— using pure 
w^hite lead and pure linseed oil on your property 

No. Street 

as follows: 



for the sum of $ 

The materials to be used will be of the highest quality 

the workmanship will be of the best with special care 

taken to insure neatness and order throughout the job. 

SIGNED 



ADDRESS. 



3k 

59 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



CHAPTER IV. 
ESTIMATING— INTERIOR. 

Greater care is necessary when figuring interior 
decorating than need be given outside painting be- 
cause with the great number of different finishes, 
the many kinds of wood now being used for trim and 
the various degrees of workmanship expected it is 
difficult to know just what to figure on. The slap- 
dash hurry-up jobs of real estate and professional 
builders is wanted in some instances, or at least 
nothing better will be paid for, while on other speci- 
fications moderately good to the best of workman- 
ship is required. Architects and general con- 
tractors are not different than other mortals and 
when they are lax, vague or indefinite in their 
written or verbal specifications, make them explain 
clearly v;hat they expect and get it in writing; 
if they will not write it, you do so. Find out before 
you submit your Estimate : 
Who is to bronze the radiators, what materials are 

to be used and how many coats ? 
If enamel is specified, is it to be white, ivory or some 

other tint? How many coats, how much and 

what kind of rubbing? Satin or Gloss Finish? 
What kind of wood trim to be used ? 
Who is to do the glazing and who furnishes the 

glass ? 
Is the interior trim to be primed or stained before 

putting up? 

60 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



If the cove moulds, chair rail or picture moulds are 
to be painted, when, before or after the paper- 
hanger finishes ? 

Any painting in the basement ? 

If walls are to be painted is canvas or muslin to be 
put on first ? Any stencils ? 

What, if any, preparatory work, cleaning, surfacing, 
etc.? 

There are so many ways to finish interior trim 
that it is really important to learn from the archi- 
tect, general contractor or owner the exact finished 
effect expected if the specifications don't show 
unmistakably what is wanted. Remember that 
words describe color effects only fairly well at best 
so it is always safest to get their 0. K. from samples 
of the tinted paint or stain spread on pieces of the 
trim left over by the carpenters. 

Furthermore, if when estimating you figure on 
rubbing with pumice and oil or water whereas a light 
rub with steel wool is all that is expected your Esti- 
mate may be high enough to lose the job. And on 
the other hand if you figure on a steel wool rub and 
are required to rub with pumice your profit will be 
cut down considerable when you get the job. 

Unit System of Estimating. 

Section No. 24. 

The first jobs of a contractor had better be 
figured only on the basis of the actual number of 
square feet in each door, window, blind, column, etc., 
to be painted. After a while, however, the estimator 
learns that all doors, windows and such details are 
of approximately the same size within a few inches. 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

He remembers from previous measurements that the 
door before him contains about so many square feet 
and it will cost about so much to paint it one, two and 
three coats. When one's memory develops to this 
point it is a time saver, and, of course, there is no 
further advantage in measuring each and every door, 
window and blind to be painted. But do not carry 
the LHiit system beyond a reasonable limit; it has its 
limitations like all good things and can be overdone. 
Out-of-the-ordinary doors, windows, etc., on old or 
exceptional buildings should always be measured 
accurately to have your estimate reasonably correct. 

Reading Plans. 

See Section No. 8. 

Extras. 

See Section No. 19. 



TO CALCULATE THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL. 

Section No. 25. 

Measurii. J the Rooms. 

Section Ino. 26. 

Measuring a house itself to calculate the amount 
of surface to be painted, stained, waxed or filled 
differs little from figuring the surface from Plans 
and Specifications. It is sufficient to say under this 
subject that the room itself is measured with a tape 
line. Take care to run the line into all corners, 
mouldings and such so as to get all of the surface, — 
figure too much rather than too little. Multiply 
height by v/idth and put down in square feet all 
surface. See Section No. 27 to follow. 

62 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

Measuring the Surface — From Plans. 

Section No. 27. 

The bungalow plans in Figures "A," '*B," "C" 
will serve the purpose of illustrating the method. 

Measuring Walls and Ceilings. 

Section No. 28. 
The Dining Room. 

The ceihng ought first to be figured. Floor Plan, 
"Figure "A," gives the size of each room. The Plan 
reads 12 ft. wide and 15 ft. long for the dining room. 
These measurements are to the centers of the par- 
titions. Outside walls are 1 foot thick, inside walls 
6 inches. The area of the ceihng then is 12x15 ft.= 
180 sq. ft. 

To find the area of the walls begin in one corner 
and measure all four sides of the room, add them 
together: 12+15+12+15=54 ft. around the room. 
The height of the ceiling is found on the Section, 
Figure "J" as 8 ft. 6 in. The baseboard is 7% in. 
high according to Figure "F" (the rule on it shows 
3 5/8 in. The scale is V2 i^^- equals 1 in. For con- 
venience call the ceiling 8 ft. high allowing the 
6 in. for the baseboard. 

The distance around the room, 54 ft., multiplied 
by the height, 8 ft., equals 432 sq. ft. of surface for 
the walls. 

Contrary to the practice in exterior painting the 
openings on interior work should be deducted from 
this figure of 432 sq. ft. The door opening to kitchen 
is 2 ft. 8 in. by 6 ft. 8 in. Figure 'T" shows the 

63 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



casings are 41/2 in. wide. Add to the width of the 
door opening the two casings which together are 

9 in. wide. Add the width of one casing, 41/2 in., to 
the height. The area to deduct then for this open- 
ing is 2 ft. 8 in.-}-9 in. by 6 ft. 8 in.+4i/2 in., or 
3 ft. 5 in. by 7 ft. 14 in, call it. dVoxl ft.=24 sq. ft. 

The windows on the right side are marked 3 ft. 
wide by 4 ft. 6 in. high. Add the width of two cas- 
ings (9 in.) and you have 3 ft. 9 in. by 5 ft. 3 in. ; 
call it 4 ft. X 5 ft. =-20 sq. ft. for each of two windows 
or 40 sq. ft. for both. 

The opening on to the front porch measures 5 ft. 
by 6 ft. 8 in. Adding casings you have, 5 ft. 41/2 in. 
by 7 ft. 1/2 in., call it 5i/2x7 ft.=38 sq. ft. 

The small windows opening on to the porch are 
1 ft. 6 in. by 4 ft. 6 in. Add the casings, 9 in., and 
you have 2 ft. 3 in. by 5 ft. 3 in., call it 2 ft. x 5 ft.= 

10 sq. ft., each window. Two windows=20 sq. ft. 

Door opening into the living room show^s 7 ft. 
wide by 6 ft. 8 in. high. Add casings and you have 
7 ft. 9 in. by 7 ft. 1/0 in., call it 8 ft. x 7 ft.=56 sq. ft. 

The buffet is 6 ft. 10 in. v/ide by 4 ft. 6 in. high 
on Figure "H," call it 7 ft. x 41/0 ft.=31 sq. ft. 

In all then we want to deduct: 

1 Door 24 sq. ft. 

2 Windows 40 

1 Door - -- 38 

2 Windows 20 

1 Door 56 

Buffet 31 



209 sq. ft. 

64 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



SUMMARY 

The Walls 432 sq. ft. 

The Ceiling 180 " " 

612 " " 

Deduct Openings 209 " " 

Actual Surface to Paint 403 '' '* 



The Living Room. 

Plan shows 12 ft. wide. The rule placed on the 
floor plan Figure "A" reads 5% in. The Scale reads 
1 in. equals 4 ft. The room then is 20^/2 ft. long. 

The ceiling is 201/2x12 ft.==246 sq. ft. 

The Walls figure: 201/2+12+201/2+12=65 ft. 
around the room. Walls are 8 ft. high so we have 
65x8= - - - 520 sq. ft. 

The openings to deduct are: 

Door and Casing 4 ft. !) in. x 7 ft. Va in. Call it 5x7 ft.=35 sq. ft. 

' 2 " 8 " X 6 •' 8 '* " - 

7 " 9 " X 7 " % '* 
Window and Casing 2 " 9 " x 5 " 3 " 

2 " 9 •' X 5 " 3 " 
Door and Casing 4 " 9 " x 7 " % " 

7 " 9 " X 7 " Va ** 

3 '• 1 *' X 7 " Vi " ' 

TOTAL 254 sq.ft. 

SUMMARY 

Walls 520 sq. ft. 

Ceiling 246 '* *' 



3x7 


" =21 ** * 


Sx7 


' =5G " ' 


3x5 




3x5 


• =15 " ' 


5x7 


' =;;5 " ' 


Sx7 


' =56 " * 


3x7 


' =21 " ' 



766 " *' 
Deduct Openings .....254 " " 



Actual Surface to Paint 512 

65 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



The Den. 

The Plan shows it to be 11 1/2 ft. by 13^2 ft., 
which equals 155 sq. ft. for the ceiling. 

Measuring around the room we have llV2+13l^ 
+111/2+131/2 ft.=50 ft. for the walls. Multiply by 
the height of the ceiling, 8 ft. ; 50x8=400 sq. ft. for 
the walls. 

The openings to deduct are : 

1 Door and Casin- 3 ft. 3 in. x 7 ft. % in. CmH it 3x7i/a ft. = 22 sq. ft. 

1 " " " 4 " 3 " x7 '^ i/a " - 

1 Window and Casing 2 " 3 " x5 " 3 " 

1 «• '• " 2 " 3 " X 5 " 3 " 

1 I)*or and t'-nsinu: r» " " x7 " Vj '* 

1 Window and Casing 6 " 9 " x 5 " 3 " 

1 Door and Casing 3 " 1 " x7 " % " 

1 Desk (Figure G) r» " " x 7 '' 

TOTAL DEDUCTIONS 206 sq. ft. 

SUMMARY 

Walls 400 sq. ft. 

Ceiling -155 " " 



4x7 


' =2S 


2x5 


• =10 


2x5 


' =10 


6x7 


' =42 


7x5 


' =.35 


3x7 


' =21 


5V^x7 


*=3S 



555 
Deduct Openings 206 



Actual Surface to Paint 349 " " 

The Kitchen. 

The ceiling measures according to Figure "A" 12 
ft. wide by 13 ft. when the closet ceiling is also in- 
cluded. 12x13^ - 156 sq, ft. 

The walls measure around 12+13+12+13=50 ft. 
The walls are 8 ft. high to ceiling. 
50x8 for the walls= 400 sq. ft. 

The openings to deduct are: 

1 Door and Casing 3 ft. 5 in. x 7 ft. Vj in. Call it 31/2x7 ft.=24 sq. ft. 
1 Window and Casing 3 " 9 " x 5 " 3 " " " 4x5 " =20 sq. ft. 
1 » " " 3 " 9 " X 3 " 9 " " " 4x4 " =16 sq. ft. 

1 " " " 3 '* 9 " x3 " 9 " " " 4x4 " =16 sq. ft. 

1 Door and Casing 3 ♦' 5 " x 7 « % " " " 3%x7 " =24 sq. ft. 
1 Cupboard 6 " 6 " x 8 " " " eVaxS " =52 sq. ft. 

TO'l'A!. 152 sq. fl. 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



SUMMARY 

Ceiling 156 sq. ft. 

Walls 400 



it ti 



556 '* " 
Deduct Openings 152 ** " 

Actual Surface to Paint 404 " ** 

Closet. 

Ceiling included with Kitchen. Walls 81/2+3+ 
81/2+3=23 ft. around the room. Walls are 8 ft. 
high; 23x8= 184 sq. ft. 

The opening to deduct : 

1 Door and Casing 3 ft. 1 in. x 7 ft. % in. Call it 3x7 ft. =21 sq. ft. 

SUMMARY 

Walls - 184 sq. ft. 

Deduct Opening 21 



i* it 



Actual Surface to Paint 163 '' '* 

Bath Room. 

Size on plan 5^/2 ft. by 7^,4 ft., which equals for 
the ceiling 41 sq. ft. 

Walls 51/2+71/2+51/2+7^2=26 ft. around. The 
walls are 8 ft. high. 26x8=208 sq. ft. 

The openings to deduct are: 

1 Door and Casing 3 ft. 1 in. x 7 ft. % in. Call it 3x7 ft.=21 sq. ft. 
1 Window and Casing 3 " 9 " x 3 " 9 " '* " 4x4 " =16 '* " 

TOTAL .37 sq. ft. 

SUMMARY 

Ceiling 41 sq. ft. 

Walls 208 



ti n 



249 " " 
Deduct Openings 87 " " 



Actual Surface to Paint 212 

67 



t( it 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



The Hall. 

Ceiling measures on plan I41/2 ft. by 3i/i ft., in- 
cluding the Closet at end. 141/2x81/2 ft.=-50 sq. ft. 

The walls measure around 31/2+14 V2+SV2 +141/2 
==36 ft. They are 8 ft. high. 36x8 ft.==288 sq. ft. 

The openings to deduct are: 

1 Door and Casing 3 ft. 3 in. x 7 ft. % in. Call it 3x7 ft.=:21 sq. ft. 
1 « » " .-} " 3 " X 7 " V2 " '' " 3x7 " =21 •* " 

I » " «' 3 " 1 •' X 7 " Va " " " 3x7 " =21 " " 

TOTAL - 63 sq.ft. 

SUMMARY 

Ceiling 50 sq. ft. 

Walls -..- 288 " " 

Deduct Openings - 63 " " 

Actual Surface to Paint 275 " " 

Dressing Room and Closet. 

Size of Ceihng on plan TJ/o ft.x7i/2ft.^56 sq. ft. 
Walls measure around 7i/2-f7 14+7^2+71/2=30 
ft. They are 8 ft. high ; 30x8=240 sq. ft. 
Openings to deduct are: 

[ Door and Casing 3 ft. 1 in. x 7 ft. % in. Call it 3x7 ft.=::L>l sq. ft. 
1 Window and Casing 3 " 9 " x 4 " 9 " " " 4x5 " =20 " " 
1 «' " " 1 " }) " X 2 " 9 " " " 2x3 " = 6 " " 

TOTAL 47 sq.ft. 

SUMMARY 

Ceiling -,.. 56 sq. ft. 

Walls 240 " " 

296 " " 
Deduct Openings 47 " " 

Actual Surface to Paint... 249 " " 

68 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PRQFITS 



Rear Screen Porch. 

Size of ceiling ly^xU ft.==90 sq. ft. 
Walls 7J/2-f 12+71/2 +12 ft.=39 ft. around. Walls 
are 8 ft. high. 8x39 ft.=312 sq. ft. 

Openings to deduct are : 

1 Door 2 ft. 8 in. x 6 ft. 8 in. Call it 3x7 ft.=21 sq. ft. 

2 r)oor.s 2 *' 6 *' X 6 " 8 •• '• ' .3x7x2 " =42 " " 
1 Door 4 " X fj " 8 '' " ■' 4x7 " =28 " " 

TOTAL 91 sq.ft. 



SUMMARY 

Ceiling 90 sq. ft. 

Walls 312 " " 



402 " 
Deduct Openings .— 91 " 



*i 



Actual Surface to Paint 311 



it it 



Total Wall and Ceiling Area. 

Dining Room 403 sq. ft. 

Living Room ......512 " " 

Den .349 " " 

Kitchen 404 " " 

Closet 163 " " 

Bath 212 ** " 

Hall and Closet .275 " '* 

Dressing Room and Closet...-249 " " 

Screen Porch ..311 " ** 

2,878 " " 
6«* 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Measuring the Floor Area. 

Section No. 29. 

(Same as Ceilings.) 

THE DINING ROOM FLOOR. Figure "A" 
shows it to measure 12 ft. wide by 15 ft. long, which 
equals — 180 sq. ft. 

THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR. Size 
12 ft. by 20^/^ ft., which equals 246 " 

THE DEN FLOOR. Size ll«/2 ft. by 
13V2 ft, equals .......155 " 

THE KITCHEN & CLOSET FLOOR. 
Size 12x13 ft., equals 156 " 

THE SCREEN PORCH FLOOR. Size 
71/2x12 ft, equals 90 " 

THE HALL & CLOSET FLOOR. Size 
31/2XI4V2 ft, equals. ..- 50 " 

THE BATH ROOM FLOOR. Size 51/2 
x7«/2 ft, equals 41 " 

DRESSING ROOM AND CLOSET 
FLOOR, Size IV^xTVn ft., equals 56 " 



Total .- .974 sq. ft 



Measuring the Wood Trim. 

Section No. :^0. 

The Doors, Frames and Casings. 

It is necessary to measure each door and window 
only a sufficient number of times to learn what the 
measurements usually are, — to have the sizes in 
mind or a typewritten list of them for reference. 
Divide all doors into three classes, small, ordinary 
size and extra large. Then figure only two sizes of 

70 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



doors putting every door in one class or the other, as 
there is no practical difference in time or material 
required for doors 2 ft. 6 in., 2 ft. 8 in. and 3 ft. 
v/ide, so call these ordinary doors and figure all of 
one size, 2 ft. 6 in. wide by 6 ft. 6 in. high. All 
other doors ought to be measured. Usually there 
are but one or two doors of extra large size per 
bouse. 

The Plan usually gives the size of the doors. To 
measure the surface of a frame and casing use a 
tape line to get the distance around from the edge 
of the casing on one side across the frame and cas- 
ing on the other side, as in Figure No. "K." Most 
casings and frames are either 4 inches or 6 inches 
wide, so the average surface to finish is 16 or 18 
inches wide — call it IV2 ft., a couple of inches one 
way or another makes no difference. 

To get the length of the casing and frame, meas- 
ure from the floor on one side up to the top of the 
frame, across the top and down again parallel to the 
casing on the other side to the floor, as in Figure 
No. "K." The average door is 6 ft. 6 in., or 8 in. 
high. Add the width of the casing on top (6 in.) 
and figure the average casing and door frame as 7 
ft. high. To the width of the door opening, 2 ft. 
6 in., add the width of the two casings, each 6 in., 
and you have the length of the casing across the 
top, — 2 ft. 6 in. plus 6 in. plus 6 in,=3i/^ ft. 

Calculating the square measure, then, for the 
casing and frame, you have it II/2 ft. wide by 7 ft. 
high. The length of the casing, both sides and 
across the top, is 7-|-3%+7=17V2 lineal feet. 

71 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



The Casing is V/^ ft. wide by 11 y^ ft. 
long= - .26 sq. ft. 

The Door 2i/> ft. wide by ^V^, ft. high== 
16 sq. ft. each side, 2 sides= 32 " " 

Each Door and Casing, 2 sides=„ .58 sq. ft. 

The bungalow floor plan Figure "A" shows Doors 
and Casings as below : 

9 Ordinary Doors and Casings, 58 sq. ft. 

each^ ....522 sq. ft. 

2 Cased Openings, 26 sq. ft. each= 52 " " 

2 Extra large Doors, 4 ft. by 6^2 ft.=54 

sq. ft. each= :...... .108 " " 

2 Extra large Doors, 5 ft. by 6i/> ft.=:65 

sq. ft. each=...... !*. 130 " " 

2 Extra large Doors, 7 ft. bv W? ft.=122 

sq. ft. each==.... 244 " " 

All Doors and Casings, 2 sides-= 1,056 sq. ft. 

The Window Casings and Sash. 

Where there are many windows of approximately 
the same size within a few inches, figure all at the 
same measurement, four or five inches larger or 
smaller can make but little difference in either ma- 
terial or labor cost. The inside of the window only 
is figured with the interior decorating, the outside 
is included with the painting. The Casing, Frame, 
Sash and Stop are usually considered as ly^ ft. wide 
or across. They actually measure a few inches less, 
but the difficulty of getting at them and cutting 
edges on the sash justifies the calculation. See Fig- 
ure "L." 

72 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Floor Plan Figure "A" shows Windows, Sash and 
Casings as below: 

Six Windows 3 ft. wide by 41/2 ft. high, and the 
Casing, Frame and Sash would figure V/^ ft. wide. 
The calculation would be made this way: 

Two Side Casings 41/0 ft. high= 9 ft. 

Top 3 ft. plus a 6 in. casing on each side= 4 " 

Bottom Sill 3 ft. plus a 6 in. casing on each 
side= .- 4 " 

17 ft. 

Each Window Casing would figure then : 
11/2 ft. by 17 ft.==25V2 sq. ft. 

All Windows on Plan. 

6 Windows, Sash 3 ft. x 4'^ ft. at 25Vj sq. ft. ench^loS sq. ft. 

6 *• " 1% " X 4Vi " '* 18 " *' '' =10S " 

3 " ^* 3 " X 3 •' " 21 " ♦' " = 63 " 

1 " «• 1 '' X 2 " =12 " 

All Windows .nnd CiiKings, 1 side ...336 sq. ft. 

Baseboard. 

This piece of trim usually measures 6, 7, 10 or 
12 in. wide, but is always figured as 1 ft. because 
both top and bottom edges must be cut clean, which 
requires at least as much time if not quite as much 
material as a flat 1-foot surface with no edges to 
cut. 

Figure "A" shows the baseboard measures as 
below, excluding openings: 

Dining Itooni, 124-ir) + ]2-f-ir) ft. = .54 ft.— 24 ft. openin«K=30 ft. 



Livinu: llooni. V2+20%+12-\-20V2 ft.= 65 "—33 

Den, "n»/2-!-i3yi-fiiy2+i3y2 ft.= r>o "—27 

Kitrhen, 12+7-f7-|-94-5-|-3ya ft.=: 43 "— 

Hjill & Clo.set, ii\ii+3V2-\-UV2 + '-iV2 ft.=36 " —14 

Hath, r)ya + 7'/2-|-,-)y2 4-7ya ft. = 26 '-—3 

Dressing Room, r»4-7%4-5-f7'^ ft.= 25 " — 7 

(Mosot, 2y5-i-7ya+2y^+7y2 ft.=r 20 "—3 

Closet, 3-f8y:s4-3-f8y, ft.= 23 "—3 



=32 

=23 " 

=43 " 

=22 " 

= 2ii " 

=18 " 

= 17 " 

=20 " 

228lu 



Total Baseboard 228 ft. long by 1 ft. wide=228 
sq. ft. 

73 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Picture Moulding. 

Dining Room 12+15+12+15 ft.== 54 ft. 

Living Room 12+20i/>+12+20i/2 ft.=== 65 " 

Den 111/2+131/2+111/2+131/2 ft.= 50 " 

Kitchen 9«/?+12+13+3i/>+8i/> ft.= 46 " 
Hall llt/^+3i/>+lli/,+8'/2 ft.=.... 30 " 



245 ft. 

Picture Mouldings are made in different widths, 
1% in. wide and 31/2 in. wide being most common. 
They are always measured as being V2 ft. wide for 
convenience in estimating. 

Total Moulding is 245 ft. long by 1/2 ft. wide===122 
sq. ft. 



Chair Rail. 

anil. l1l^-f:Ha + 11'^ + ^^^ ft. = 

Kitchen. I)i.2 + 124-1:5+;}Vj4-8'^ ft.=.... 
r.ath Uooui. r>'/(:+7Vj-f-r>',44-7'/j ft. = .. 

Closet, 2',{, + T'/j4-l'yj-f7«/j ft. = 

Closet, a+SVa4-'54-^*<'/i n. = 


,'50 ft.— 14 ft. oi)eiiinir.s=16 ft. 

46 •• — 7 " " =.'i9 " 

26 -^ 7 " " =19 " 

...20 " — 3 " " :r-17 " 
23 '• ~- 3 '^ " =20 " 



111 ft. 



Ill ft, long by 1/2 ft. wide=55 sq. ft. 



Plate Rail — Dining Room. 

12+15+12+15 ft=54 ft. minus openings 18 ft. 
=36 ft. 

Figure it as being 1 ft. wide by 36 ft. long-=36 
sq. ft. 

1 Batten or Panel every foot, excluding open- 
ings=12+15+12+15 ft.=54 ft., minus 24 ft.=30 ft. 

30 Battens 314 ft. long=97i/2 ft. long by 3 in. 
wide, call it i/> ft. wide=48 sq. ft. 

Plate Rail 36 sq. ft. 

Battens 48 " " 

Total 84 " " 

74 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Buff et— Dining Room— Figure "H." 

Front measures 7 ft. 4 in. wide by 5 ft. 

high, call it 7x5 ft.=. 35 sq. ft 

2 Sides 11/. ft. by 3 ft.=:... .- 9 

Top 7>/2 ft? long by V/^ ft. wide=. 11 

Shelf 71/2 ft. long by V2 ft. wide-^.. .- 3 " : 



H it 

it i< 



Total 58 sq. ft. 

Desk and Book Cases — Den. 

Front measures 51/2 ft. wide by 7 ft. high 

= 38 sq. ft. 

2 Ends measure iy2 ft. wide by 7 ft. high 

each= 20 " " 

7 Shelves measure 1 ft. wide by 51/^ ft. 

each== 38 " " 

Pigeon Holes — estimate about... 4 



(( it 



Total - 100 sq. ft. 

Cupboards — Kitchen. 

Front measures 6i/^ ft. wide by 8^^ ft. 

high= 55 sq. ft. 

2 Ends measure 1% ft. wide by 8^2 ft 

high= 25 " " 

7 Shelves measure 1 ft. wide by 6 ft. 

high= 42 " " 

Total .122 sq. ft. 

Medicine Case. 

Front measures 2 ft. wide by 2^2 ft. bigh 

= 5 sq. ft. 

Inside measures 2 ft. wide by 2 ft. high== 4 ** ** 

8 Shelves 1 ft. wide by 2 ft. long= 16 " *' 

Total 25 sq. ft. 

75 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

Linen Case. 

Front measures 2i/4 ft. wide by 3 ft. high 

= 71/a sq. ft. 

2 Sides measure l^/i ft. wide by 3 ft. 

high= 41/2 " " 

Top measures li/a ft wide by 2V^ ft. high 

^ 4 ** " 

Total 16 sq. ft. 



76 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PRaFITS 



SUMMARY AREA TO BE DECORATED— IN- 

TERIOR BUNGALOW—FIGURE 

"A," "B," "C." 

Section No. 31. 



Walls, Ceilings and Flooi:s. 

Walls and 
Ceilings Floors 

Dining Room ...403 sq. ft 180 sq. ft. 

Living Room 512 ** 

Den 349 '* 

Kitchen 404 ** 

Closet .163 " 

Bath 212 ** ■* L 41 

Hall and Closet 275 " " 50 

Dressing Room and Closet 249 '' " 56 

Screen Porch ..311 '* " 90 



.246 
.155 

156 



Total 2,878 sq. ft... 974 sq. ft. 



Interior Trim. 

Baseboard 228 sq. ft. 

Picture Moulding 122 " 

Chair Rail 55 ** 

Doors, Frames and Casings (2 sides). ...1,056 " 
Window Casings, Frames and Sash (1 

side) 336 '* 

Plate Rail and Battens 84 '* 

Buffet 58 " 

Desk and Book Cases 100 " 

Cupboard 122 " 

Medicine Case 25 ** 

Linen Case 16 " 



Total Interior Trim 2,202 sq. ft. 

77 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



TO FIGURE THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL FOR 
A JOB. 

Section No. 32. 



How Many Gallons from a Mix? 

See SectioH No. 11. 



How Much Surface Will One Gallon Cover? 

Section No. 33. 

Because flat paint made by thinning down pure 
white lead with turpentine and a little oil stays put 
and does not run, it is possible to mix it so thick as 
to cover and hide about any surface in one coat. 
This fact makes it difficult to state how much sur- 
face you may expect a gallon to cover. A man will 
mix his paint sufficiently thick to hide the surface 
in one coat if he must; then a gallon of paint, for 
instance, will not cover as much as when it is mixed 
thin and to hide the surface in three coats. 

A gallon of flat paint (lead thinned with turpen- 
tine) Hght tints, will cover on an average each coat 
as below. These figures do not represent the prim- 
ing, the second or third coats alone, but rather an 
average between all three coats. See Section No. 12. 

1 Gallon of Flat Paint Covers: 

Section No. 34. 

Light tints on interior wood trim, plaster, or wall 

board about 600 to 700 sq. ft., 1 coat 

Dark colors about 700 to 900 " " " " 

See also Section No. 12 for rough cast walls. 

78 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



1 Gallon of Varnish Covers: 

Section No. 35. 

Floor Varnish about 500 sq. ft., 1 coat. 

Spar Finishing Varnish about 600 sq. ft., 1 coat. 

1 Gallon of Hard Oil Covers: 

Section No. 36. 

About 450 to 500 sq. ft., 1 coat. 

1 Gallon of Shellac Covers: 

Section No. 37. 

On an average about 400 sq. ft., 1 coat. 

1 Gallon of Wax Covers: 

Section No. 38. 

About 600 sq. ft., 1 coat. 

Formulae: I gallon turpentine, 2 lbs. beeswax, 

2 tablespoonfuls of XXXX ammonia. 

1 Gallon Varnish Size Covers: 

Section No. 39. 

About 1,200 to 1,400 sq. ft., 1 coat. 

Composed of varnish, benzine or turps, and a 
little paint. 

1 qt. covers about 350 sq. ft., 1 coat. 

1 Gallon Glue Size Covers: 

Section No. 40. 

About 1,000 sq. ft., 1 coat. 

1 qt. covers about 250 sq. ft., 1 coat. 
glue, ground or flake (about 22c quality). 

Formulae: 2^2 to 3 gallons water to 1 lb. good 

1 Gallon of Oil Stain Covers: 

Section No. 41. 

Mahogany, Oak and others about 500 sq. ft., 1 
coat* 

79 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



1 Gallon of Spirit or Acid Stain ('overs: 

Section No. 42. 

Mahogany, Oak and others about 450 sq. ft., 1 
coat. 

1 Pound Paste Wood Filler Covers: 

Section No. 4/5. 

On Oak about 40 sq. ft., 1 coat. 
On Birch about 45 sq. ft., 1 coat. 
On Pine about 45 sq. ft., 1 coat. 

1 Gallon Liquid Filler Covers: 

Section No. 44. 

About 550 sq. ft., 1 coat. 

1 Gallon White Enamel Covers: 

Section No. 45. 

There is a little difference between the brands of 
different manufacturers, but on an average one gal- 
lon will cover 600 sq. ft., one coat, over prepared 
ground coats on any surface. 

1 Gallon of Enamel Undercoating Covers: 

Section No. 46. 

About 500 sq. ft., 1 coat. 

1 Gallon of Paint and Varnish Remover Covers: 

Section No. 47. 

Brands differ, but 300 sq. ft., one coat, is an 
average. 

1 Gallon of Calcimine Covers: 

Section No. 48. 

On Smooth Plaster about 275 sq. ft., 1 coat. 
On Sand Finish Plaster about 225 sq. ft., 1 coat. 
On Brick about 175 sq. ft., 1 coat. 

so 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



1 Gallon of Bronze Covers: 

Section No. 49. 

Bronze Powder thinned with bronzing liquid or 
varnish and turpentine about 700 sq. ft., 1 coat on 
metal. 

One ounce of bronze powder thinned as above 
covers about 24 sq. ft., 1 coat on metal. 

Tiffany Glazing Color Covers: 

Section No. 50. 

Figure one pound of each color per room of aver- 
age size. 

Starch. 
Section No. 51. 

Figure one pound of starch per room. 



TO FIGURE THE AMOUNT OF LABOR FOR A 

JOB. 

Section No. 52. 

What is a Day's Work? 

See Section No. 14, Chapter III. 

The figures to follow do not represent the amount 
of first, second or third coat work a man can do per 
hour, but rather an average between all three coats. 
They were arrived at by adding together the time 
required for all three coats and dividing that figure 
by three. 

Painting Wood Trim. 

Section No. 53. 

Figure that an average journeyman will paint 
150 sq. ft. per hour, or 1,350 sq. ft. per day of nine 
hours. 

81 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Painting Smooth Plaster Walls. 

Section No. 54. 

An average journeyman will paint about 150 sq. 
ft. per hour, 1 coat — about 1,350 sq. ft. per day of 
nine hours. 

Painting Sand Finish Walls. 

Section No. 55. 

One man will paint about 140 sq. ft. per hour, 1 
coat, and about 1,260 sq. ft. per day of nine hours. 

Painting Rough Stucco Walls. 

Section No. 56. 

One man will paint about 110 sq. ft., 1 coat, per 
hour, and about 990 sq. ft., 1 coat, per day of nine 
hours. 

Painting Canvas or Muslin. 

Section No. 57. 

One man will paint about 140 sq. ft. per hour, 1 
coat, and about 1,260 sq. ft., 1 coat, per day of nine 
hours. 

Painting Wall Board. 

Section No. 58. 

When panelled before painting many edges must 
be cut. One man will paint about 110 sq. ft. per 
hour, 1 coat, and 990 sq. ft., 1 coat, per day of nine 
hours. 

To p^int when not panelled or before moulding 
is put on figure same as smooth plaster walls. 

Sizing. 

Section No. 59. 

One man will apply glue size at the rate of 600 
sq. ft. pel hour. One man will apply varnish size 
at the rati of 100 sq. ft. per hour. 

82 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Enameling. 

Section No,. 60. 

One man will enamel about 120 sq. ft., 1 coat, per 
hour on doors, windows, baseboards, etc. An aver- 
age Door and Casing will be given one coat both 
sides in half an hour. 

Figure that each man will enamel two doors and 
casings per hour, 1 coat, two sides. 

Figure that one man will enamel 130 lineal feet 
of baseboard per hour, 1 coat. Figure all baseboards 
the same, whether 6 inches, 8 inches, or 10 inches 
wide. 

Figure that one man will enamel an average win- 
dow in 15 minutes, or four windows per hour, 1 coat; 
this includes the casing, sash, sill, and all inside. 

Figure that one man will enamel 140 lineal feet 
of picture moulding, cove mould or chair rail per 
hour, 1 coat. 

Varnishing, Shellacing. 

Section No. 61. 

An average journeyman will apply one coat in 
one hour, as below : 

On 2 Doors and Casings, both sides. 
On 4 Windows and Casings, one side. 

On 130 hneal feet of Baseboard. 

On 150 hneal feet of Chair Rail. 

On 140 lineal feet of Picture Mould. 

On 150 hneal feet of Cornice. 

On 70 sq. ft. of Flat Surface. 

Staining. 

Section No. 62. 

One man will brush on and wipe off oil stain at 
the rate of about 200 sq. ft. per hour. Spirit stain 
and water stain about 150 sq. ft. per hour. 

83 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Calcimining. 
Section No, 63. 

An average journeyman will apply as below: 
200 sq. ft., 1 coat, per hour on sand finish wall. 
340 sq. ft., 1 coat, per hour on smooth finish wall. 
180 sq. ft., 1 coat, per hour on brick. 

Bronzing:. 

Section No. 64. 

One man will bronze two radiators per hour, 1 
coat. 

Starching. 

Section No. 65. 

One man will coat and stipple with starch about 
200 sq. ft. per hour. 

Stippling. 

Section No. 66. 

This requires the services of an extra man, as it 
must be done immediately after the paint is brushed 
on. Figure for stippling a room the same time for 
one man as you figure for painting one coat. 

One man can stipple 600 or 700 sq. ft. per hour 
if the work is ready, but he usually follows a brush 
hand and can work no faster, so figure 150 sq. ft. 
per man per hour. 

Floor Filling — Preparing. 

Section No. 67. 

Figure for brushing on the filler that one man 
will coat 150 sq. ft. per hour, 1 coat. 

Figure the same time for wiping off the surplus 
filler. 

Figure for sandpapering that one man will rub 
down about 300 sq. ft. per hour. 

84 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Waxing and Polishing. 

Section No. 68. 

One man will brush on about 200 sq. ft. per hour, 
1 coat. 

One man will poHsh fairly well with a weighted 
brush about 150 sq. ft. per hour. 

Preparing Surfaces. 

Section No. 69. 

Such work is usually so uncertain as to time and 
material needed that it is safer to do it on the time 
and material basis, — that is, day work. You never 
know what you are up against when burning and 
scraping off cracked and scaled paint, for instance, 
or removing old wall paper, filling cracks, etc. The 
paint m.ay come off fairly easy, or it may be so hard 
as to make it necessary to dig*' it off a httle at a 
time. There may be one or two thicknesses of wall 
paper or six. 

Possibly the paper was varnished some time or 
other which, of course, makes a difficult covering to 
remove. After you get the old paint or paper off, 
the plaster may be so poor as to require much filling 
and a coat or two of shellac before you proceed with 
the painting. 

Washing. 

Section No. 70. 

To do a good job of washing of walls requires 
about as much time as to paint it one coat, so figure 
the same time for it. 

Calcimine can be washed off at the rate of 170 
sq. ft. per hour. 

85 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Tiffany Wall Glazing. 

Section No. 71. 

1 Glazing- Color (excluding ground coats) 50 sq. 
ft. per hour. 

4 Glazing Colors (excluding ground coats) 33 sq. 
ft. per hour. 

This includes the blending and stippling. 

Stenciling. 

Section No. 72. 

An Ordinary Stencil 4 in, wide may be trans- 
ferred in two colors to the wall, the ties filled in by 
hand, a small amount of a third color put in by hand 
and high lights wiped out at the rate of about 10 
lineal feet per hour. 

An Ordinary Stencil can be transferred in one 
color, no filling in of ties or wiping out at the rate 
of 20 lineal feet per hour. 

An Outline Stencil may be transferred at the 
rate of 30 lineal feet per hour. 

Filling in Outline Stencils is an uncertain task as 
to time required. The character of the design, num- 
ber of colors, amount of wiping out of high lights 
and the skill of the decorator are all determining 
factors. The time required per yard or per room is 
subject to great variation. It is best to charge for 
this work on the Time and Material Basis; an esti- 
mate for it is little better than a guess usually. 

Time Required for Mixing Colors. 

See Section No. 73. 

Allow one hour per room for mixing paint, stains, 
wax, filler, and other necessary incidentals. 

86 



ESTBIATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



MAKING UP THE ESTIMATE— INTERIOR FOR 
BUNGALOW SHOWN IN FIGURE NO. "A." 

Section No. 74. 



Listing the Materials. 

Section No. 75. 



Walls and Ceilings. 

Section No. 76. 

In Section No. 31 we find that the total area of 
walls and ceilings to be painted is 2,878 sq. ft. 

PUTTY. The first step is to prepare these walls 
and ceilings for painting by filling cracks and level- 
ing up the surface. We will estimate that it will re- 
quire about 2 lbs. of putty and 1 pint of shellac. 

SIZE. The surface is now ready to size. Sec- 
tion No. 39 says 1 gallon of varnish size covers about 
1,200 sq. ft. Divide the total surface area, 2,878 sq. 
ft., by 1,200 sq. ft. and you find that 2.39 gals, of 
size are needed for the job, call it 2Vo gals. To 
make this size I^/l gallons of varnish and I14 S'^l- 
lons of benzine are needed. 

PAINTING. The surface is now ready to paint. 
Section No. 34 says 1 gallon of flat paint, light tint, 
will cover about 600 to 700 sq. ft., 1 coat, on smooth 
plaster walls. Divide the area to paint, 2,878 sq. ft., 
by 700 sq. ft.=4.11 gals., call it 41/2 g'^ls. for one 
coat, and 9 gals, for two coats. 

The materials needed to make this paint are lead, 
color and turpentine. An average formula for a 

87 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



light tinted paint thinned to brushing consistency is : 

100 lbs. of white lead equals 2% gals. 

3 gals, turpentine " 3 

1 lb. color " 

Makes --5% gals of paint 

The job will need then a little less than twice the 
quantities of this formula, but it is best to send to 
each job a httle more than is needed, as shown by 
your estimate. The quantities to figure then are : 

100 lbs. of white lead equals 2% gals. 

100 " " " " " - 2% " 

6 gals, turpentine " ——6 " 

2 lbs. color " 

Makes - IV/^ gals, of paint 

STARCHING. Estimate that about 1 pound of 
starch is needed for each room, or 4 pounds in all. 



Floors. 

Section No. 77. 

Section No. 31 shows the total floor area to be 
finished as 974 sq. ft. 

FILLING. One gallon of liquid filler fills about 
550 sq. ft. (See Section No. 44.) Divide 974 sq. ft. 
by 550 sq. ft. and we find that 1.77 gals, of filler are 
needed, call it 1% gals. If paste filler is to be used 
on oak floors, 1 pound thinned with turpentine will 
fill about 40 sq. ft. Divide the floor area, 974 sq. ft., 
by 40 and you find that 24 pounds of paste are 
needed ; also one-half gallon of turpentine will be re- 
quired to thin the paste. 

88 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



SHELLAC. A coat of shellac is now in order. 
In Section No. 37 we find that 1 gallon covers about 
400 sq. ft., 1 coat. Divide the floor area, 974 sq. ft., 
by 400 sq. ft. and we find that 2.43 gallons of shellac 
are needed, call it 2V2 gallons. 

VARNISH. A coat of varnish is next needed. 
One gallon covers about 500 sq. ft., 1 coat. (See Sec- 
tion No. 35.) Divide the floor area, 974 sq. ft., by 
500 sq. ft. and we find that 1.94 gallons of varnish 
are needed, call it 2 gallons. 

WAXING. A coat of wax will finish the floors. 
A gallon of wax made by this formula will cover 
about 600 sq. ft., 1 coat (see Section No. 38) : 

2 lbs. beeswax — melt in a pot placed in 
a pail of hot water and add 1 gallon of tur- 
pentine and 2 table spoonfuls of strong Harts- 
horn ammonia. 

The area to be waxed is 974 sq. ft. Divide 974 
sq. ft. by 600 sq. ft. and we find that 1.62 gallons of 
wax are needed, call it 2 gallons. The materials 
needed then are: 

2 gallons turpentine, 
2 pounds beeswax, 
1 ounce ammonia. 

The Wood Trim. 

Section No. 78. 

In Section No. 31 we find the total area of trim 
to be finished is 2,202 sq. ft. Often one or two of 
the rooms in the house are given a different finish 
on the trim than the balance of the rooms ; the bath 
and dining-rooms may be white, the kitchen natural 
finish and other rooms stained. It will serve to illus- 
trate the method of estimating just as well, how- 
ever, simply to figure all of the trim to be finished 
the same way — that is, fill, stain and wax. 

89 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Filling. 

One gallon of liquid filler fills about 550 sq. ft. as 
per Section No. 44. Divide the total trim area, 2202 
sq. ft., by 550 and you find that 4 gallons of filler are 
needed for the job. 
Staining. 

One gallon of oil stain will cover about 500 sq. ft., 
one coat on an average. One gallon of spirit or acid 
stain will cover about 450 sq. ft. Divide the area 
to be stained, 2202 sq. ft., by 500 sq. ft., and we find 
that 4.44 gals, of oil stain are needed for the job, 
call it 41/4 gals. See Sections No. 41 and 42. 

Waxing. 

One gallon of wax will cover about 600 sq. ft. one 
coat. See Section No. 38. Divide the surface to be 
waxed, 2202 sq. ft., by 600 sq. ft., and we find that 
3.67 gallons of wax are needed for the job, call it 4 
gals. Section No. 38 shows the materials needed for 
a gallon of wax are: 

1 gal. turpentine 

2 lbs. beeswax 

2 tablespoonfuls of hartshorn ammonia. 
For 4 gals, of wax then the materials needed are : 
4 gals, turpentine 
8 lbs. beeswax 
8 tablespoonfuls of ammonia. 



LISTING THE LABOR 
Section No. 79. 

Walls and Ceilings. 

Section No. 80. 

PUTTY CRACKS. 

Time required to prepare the walls of different 
rooms in houses will vary greatly according to the 

90 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PRQFITS 



condition of the walls. When walls are cracked 
more than usual do not include the preparation of 
surfaces in the contract estimate but charge for it 
on the time and material basis. We will estimate 
that an hour*s time will be needed for filling the 
cracks in each of the four rooms, 4 hours in all. 
SIZING. 

There are 2878 sq. ft. of walls and ceihngs to be 
sized. One man will coat with varnish size about 
100 sq. ft. per hour. Divide 2,878 sq. ft. by 100 sq. 
ft. and we find that 28.78 hrs. are required for the 
whole job, call it 29 hours for one man. See Section 
No. 59. 
PAINTING. 

The area to paint is 2878 sq. ft. One man will 
paint on an average about 150 sq. ft. per hour, one 
coat. Divide 2878 by 150 and we find that 19.18 hrs. 
are needed for one man to paint the entire area, call 
it 19 hours even for one coat and 38 hours for two 
coats. See Section Nos. 54, 55, 56 and 57. 
STIPPLING. 

The last coat usually is stippled. The area to 
stipple is 2878 sq. ft. One man will stipple as fast as 
the paint is brushed on, so figure 150 sq. ft. per hour. 
The stippling will then also require 19 hours. See 
Section No. 66. 

STARCHING. 

Wall and ceiling area to be starched is 2878 sq. 
ft. One man will starch and stipple at the same 
time about 200 sq. ft. per hour. Divide 2878 by 200 
and we find that 14.39 hours* time are necessary for 
starching, call it 141^ hours. See Section 65. 

91 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

Floors. 

Section No. 81. 
FILLING. 

Area to be filled is 974 sq. ft. One man will brush 
on about 150 sq. ft. per hour and will wipe off about 
the same amount in the same time as given by Sec- 
tion No. 67. Divide 974 by 150 and we find that 6.49 
hours are needed, call it 6I/2 hours. We have then 
6V2 hours for spreading the filler and Qy^ hours for 
wiping; 13 hours for both. 

SANDPAPERING. 

A man will sandpaper lightly about 300 sq. ft. per 
hour on an average. See Section No. 67. Divide 
974 sq. ft. by 300 and we find that 3.24 hours are 
needed, call it 3^/^ hours. 

SHELLACING. 

974 sq. ft. are to be coated. One man will coat 
about 70 sq. ft., one coat per hour. See Section No. 
61. Divide 974 by 70 and we find that 13.91 hours, 
call it 14 hours, are needed. 

VARNISHING. 

Same time as is needed for shellacing, 14 hours 
for one man. 

WAXING. 

974 sq. ft. is the area to be waxed. One man will 
coat with wax about 200 sq. ft. per hour. See Sec- 
tion No. 68. Divide 974 by 200 and we find that 4.87 
hours are needed, call it 5 hours. 

92 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PRaFITS 



POLISHING. 

Much or little time may be spent on this finishing 
according to how fine a job is expected. In Section 
No. 68 we find that one man will polish fairly well 
with a weighted brush about 150 sq. ft. per hour. 
Divide 974 by 150 and we find that 6.49 hours are 
needed, call it 6^4 hours. 

The Wood Trim. 

Section No. 82. 

The total area of all trim in this bungalow is given 
in Section No. 31 as 2202 sq. ft. 

STAINING. 

Area to be stained, all the wood trim, is 2202 sq. 
ft. One man will coat and wipe off with oil stain 
as per Section No. 62, about 200 sq. ft. per hour. 
Divide 2202 by 200 and we find that 11 hours are 
required. 

FILLING. 

One man according to Section No. 67 will spread 
on about 150 sq. ft. of filler per hour; he will wipe 
off about the same amount on an average. Divide 
2202 by 150 and you find it will require about 14.68 
hours, call it 143/2 hours, to spread the filler and the 
same time to wipe it off, or 29 hours for both. 

SANDPAPEPJNG. 

A man will sandpaper lightly about 300 sq. ft. 
per hour as per Section No. 67. Dividing 2202 by 
300 we find that 7.34 hours, call it 7^2 hours, are 
needed. 

WAXING. 

2202 sq. ft. is the total trim area to be waxed 
as per Section No. 31. Section No. 68 says one man 
will coat with wax about 200 sq. ft. per hour. 
Divide 2202 by 200 and w^e find that 11 hours are 
needed. 

93 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Mixing. 

Section No. 83. 

Considerable time is always required for mixing 
paint, stains, fillers, wax and other incidentals that 
are not figured in with above brushing- time. There 
are four rooms and bath in the bungalow being fig- 
ured so add 5 hours time. 

THE ESTIMATE COMPLETE. 

Section No. 84. 
INTERIOR OF BUNGALOW FIGURE NO. "A." 

Material prices and the wage scale of 50c per hour 
used here will necessarily change to fit market condi- 
tions in each locality but the method of figuring 
should remain the same anywhere. 
Material Cost. 
See Sections Nos. 74 to 78. 
WALLS AND CEILINGS. 

Putty. 2 lbs at mVz .07 

Varnish Size— lU gals, benzine.-" .08 .10 

1% jvals, varnish.. " 2.00 2.50 

Flat Lead Paint— 

200 lbs. white lead " .08 16.00 

6 gals turpentine " .70 4.20 

2 lbs. color, " .25 .50 

Starch, 4 Ib.^ « .05 ,20 $23.57 

FLOORS. 

Paste Filler— 24 lbs " .12 2.88 

% gal. turpentine" .70 .35 

Shellac, white, 2V3 gals " 1.50 3.75 

Varnish, floor, 2 gals " 2,50 5.00 

Wax— Beeswax, 2 lbs " .35 .70 

Turpentine, 2 gals " .70 1.40 

Ammonia, 1 oz " dO $14.18 

THE WOOD TRIM. — — — 

Filler, liquid, 4 gals " .90 3.60 

Stain, 4.V2 gals " 1.20 5.40 

Wax— Beeswax, 8 lbs " .35 2.80 

Turpentine, 4 gals " .70 2.80 

Ammonia, 8 oz " .50 $15.10 

Total Material Cost $52.85 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Labor Cost. 

See Sections Nos. 79 to 83. 

WALLS AND CEILINGS. 

Puttying- Cracks 4 hrs. 

Sizing 29 

Painting _ 38 " 

Stippling 19 " 

Starching UV2 " IO4.V2 hrs. 



FLOORS. 

Filling and Wiping 13 

Sandpapering SVz 

Shellacing ■- 14 

Varnishing 14 

Waxing 5 

Polishing 6V2 " 56 hrs. 

INTERIOR TRIM. 

Staining and Wiping ..., 11 " 

Filling and Wiping 29 " 

Sandpapering TV2 *' 

Waxing 11 " 58i^ hrs. 



Mixing paint, size, stain, etc 5 hrs. 



Total Time : 224 hrs. 

Total Labor Cost, 224 hrs. at 50 per hr....$112.85 

Overhead Expense. 

Add Labor Cost ($52.85) and Material Cost ($112.00) 

together and take 15% of it, equals ..-.....$ 24.72 

Profit. 

Add as profit whatever amount you think you ought 
to have, 10, 20 or 50% of the Labor Cost and 
Material Cost. In this estimate we will take 50% 
for profit. Add Labor Cost ($52.85) and Mate- 
rial Cost ($112.00) together; the sum equals 

'^" of this, equals $84.42 



PRICE TO CHARGE CUSTOMER $273.99 

95 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



CHAPTER V. 
PROFITABLE PRICES— PRICE LISTS. 

What is a Job Worth? 

Section No. 85. 

Who is responsible if you are making less profit 
out of the painting business than you ought to 
make? If you complain that it is impossible to get 
good prices for work ; that people will not pay what 
painting is worth, and that you are compelled to cut 
your prices below a living profit basis in order to get 
any work to do you are mistaken. You believe that 
you are stating facts; you are perfectly honest in 
thinking you are compelled to cut prices way below 
what you know you ought to ask. You are fully per- 
suaded that people want cheap work and low prices 
and, in consequence of these beliefs, you constantly 
endeavor to reduce the prices on work you figure 
to the lowest possible minimum, even though you 
cannot then do the work honestly and make a profit. 
There is only one way to get prices and that is to 
ask them. We are often fighting competition that 
does not exist, and trying to meet quotations that 
have not been given by competitors. 

Some people think it is shrewd buying to try to 
give the impression that they can get their work 
done for a low^er price by a competitor whom you 
know to be a quality man and a careful estimator 
and then to say they would like to give you the job, 
but do not feel justified in doing so unless you can 

96 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



meet the other man's figures. Don't be mislead by 
any such game. If you have estimated the work 
carefully and are satisfied that your price is right, 
that you must sacrifice your profit if you take the 
work at a lower price, stick to your figure even 
though you lose the job. It is better to let some- 
body else get the work than to take it at a figure 
which will not yield you a fair profit. There are 
worries enough and chances for something to go 
wrong on every job. You may be compelled to do 
parts of it over again in order to give your customer 
the kind of a job you must in order to satisfy him 
and to maintain your reputation. You can't afford 
to add the additional worry of trying to make the 
job yield a profit Vv^hen you know the original price 
was too low. And you cannot afford to take work 
that does not yield a profit ; might better go fishing. 
A contractor whose business is down to the dead 
level of price competition will never get it back to a 
profitable basis unless he regains his nerve and asks 
the prices he ought to get. 

F'irst-class work at a profit is the standard to es- 
tablish and then live up to it. People are not going 
to tell you that your prices are too low ; they are not 
going to insist that you shall make a living profit if 
you seem determined to do without it. But they v/ill 
not respect you any more because you ask cheap 
prices, and they will not believe they are getting as 
good w^orkmanship or material as they would ex- 
pect if they paid you a fair price. Every job is 
worth all it costs and a profit. All it costs — don't 
forget that. Not only labor and m.aterials, but all 

97 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



the overhead charges, — the percentage added to take 
care of the running expenses of the business, — go to 
make up the cost of the job. You are not doing 
justice to yourself until you get all the job costs and 
a reasonable profit in addition. 

There are those who are so anxious to get their 
work done cheap that they have no thought of qual- 
ity. To get their work you have to cut prices be- 
low the figures that will enable you to give an honest 
job. Then you get the reputation of being a cheap 
man. Competitors, finding you are determined to 
cut the profit out of bids in order to get the work 
av/ay from them, will retaliate in the same way, and 
before long every painter in the town will be doing 
work so cheap that there is no profit in it. Nobody 
will be making a fair living out of the painting busi- 
ness; no one will have the respect of the business 
men of the town and the painters will lose credit 
with supply houses. The end of such cut-throat 
competition is usually bankruptcy. It does not pay. 

A large proportion of the community is willing to 
pay fair prices for anything, whether it is a new 
coat to wear or a new coat of paint for the house. 
You must make people feel satisfied that they are 
getting good value for the money they spend. They 
want quality first and you cannot satisfy them by 
giving cheap price and low value. If you can con- 
vince these people that you will give them good 
materials and good workmanship, you can get a good 
price — all that the work costs and a profit. You 
must have the courage to ask a profit bringing price. 

Get the reputation for doing good work, for al- 

9» 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

v/ays carrying out your contracts to the letter and 
a little more. When people question the price you 
ask or when they draw comparisons between your 
figuies and those some cheaper competitor offers, 
take the stand that you have a reputation for the 
(iualivy of your work and that you cannot afford to 
do anything but the best. Tell them the prices you 
ask are the lowest that can be given if they want 
reliable work. Point out, if necessary houses that 
have been painted with cheap materials and in a 
slip-shod way and show how soon they go to pieces 
and then call attention to jobs you have done that 
have stood up well and looked well long after the 
cheap work has gone to pieces. Arguments like this 
are convincing, if you advance them earnestly and 
show that you mean to give full value in return for 
the price you ask. 

What Price Shall I Charge? 

Section No. 86. 

A careful study of the estimating method given 
in this volume will enable you to figure in a suffi- 
ciently accurate manner the cost of a job. That 
much accomplished, make up a list of materials you 
use generally with prices in large and small lots in 
pound, pint, quart, half -gallon, five gallon and barrel 
lots. Keep this schedule of prices correct by revising 
the figures as changes occur. 

With the correct amount of material needed and 
the right prices before you all the time you have the 
basis upon which to figure the cost of a job. After 
this have the courage to add to this cost 15', (or 
some figure) to cover your overhead expense, iind 

99 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

20% (or some figure) for profit. You then have a 
fair price in the total of these items to submit to the 
property owner. Material Cost, Labor Cost, Over- 
head Expense and Profit — these are the necessary- 
elements into which to divide the cost of any work. 
Every job is Worth all it Costs — and a Profit. 

The Price per Square Yard. 

Section No. 87. 

Contractors of long- experience often arrive fi- 
nally at a price to charge per square yard or per 
square (10x10 ft.), which includes all in one figure 
the Material Cost, Labor Cost, Overhead Expense 
and Profit. Just what this price should be depends, 
of course, on market conditions under which your 
business is conducted. Each contractor must figure 
out the price or rate that is correct for his own busi- 
ness. This price to charge per square yard or per 
square (10x10 ft.) must necessarily be greater in 
cities wiiere the wage scale is 65c per hour than 
where a 50c scale is in force. It will even be greater 
or less a; between different contractors in the same 
town because, while the Material and Labor Costs 
are about the same to each, their Overhead Expenses 
are quite different. One may pay a high rent and 
anotlier little or no rent; one may employ a clerk 
and use an auto truck, while his competitors tote 
tlieir equipment about with a ''One-hoss shaj^" or 
a push-cart. The contractor who uses the auto truck 
usually carries on a mUch larger business than others 
and so his cartage and other Overhead Expenses 
often are not proportionately much greater for each 
job. 

109 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



How to arrive at or figure out this price per 
square yard is the next point of interest. For prices 
■charged by other contractors, see Section No. 88, to 
follow. 

Taking the two estimates for exterior painting 
given in Chapter III, Sections Nos. 21 and 23, as a 
basis from which to w^ork, the price per square yard 
for each of them would be figured as below. 

Measurements of the houses are 4,577 sq. ft. for 
one and 3,573 sq. ft. for the other. Reduce the 
measure to square yard basis by dividing each figure 
by 9 (9 sq. ft. equals 1 sq. yd.) and you find that 
one house measures 508 sq. yds. and the other 397 
sq. yds. 

The estimate given in Chapter III for the house 
having 508 sq. yds. of surface to paint shows that 
the price for the job to be submitted to the owner 
is $95.40. The price for the other house having 397 
sq. yds. is given as $72.49. 

Find the price per square yard by dividing the 
price in dollars by the number of square yards: 
$95.40 divided by 508=16.81+call it 17c per sq. yd. 
$72.49 " " 397===18.25+ " " 18c " " 

It would not be well to use either 17c or 18c per 
square yard as a Price to charge for all work, be- 
cause both of the houses from which these Prices 
were taken are rather plain and not very large. The 
Price you decide to charge for all work should be an 
average figure based on different kinds of work — 
both large and small, fancy trimmed and plain 
houses. 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

Let us assume we have a record of painting jobs 
that figure for a large house with fancy cornice, 
gable, grills, shingle belt, etc., a price of 26c per sq. 
yd. ; a large house, plain trim, with a price of 22c 
per sq. yd. ; a brick building with a price of 24c per 
sq. yd. and a cottage with fancy trim with a price of 
20c per sq. yd. in addition to the two prices of 17c 
and 18c per sq. yd. as per the Estimates referred to. 

To arrive at a fair average Price to charge per 
square yard, add all the above prices together : 

17c per square yard, 

18c " 

26c '' 

22c " " " 

24c " " ** 

20c " 



127 

Now divide 127 by 6, which is the number of Prices 
averaged; 127 divided by 6 equals 21c per sq. yd. as 
the Price to charge for two-coat work. 



THE PRICES OTHERS CHARGE. 

Section No. 88. 

Time and Material Basis. 

Section No. 89. 

Chicago contractors add 15c to the present wage 
scale of 70c per hour for the time charge on a job, 
making 85c per hour per man. 

Material is charged against the job at retail 
prices and nets some profit to the contractor. 

102 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Exterior Painting Prices. 

Section No. 90. 

One Contractor Uses the Below Price Schedule: 
Use the tape line and measure carefully the cornices, 
mouldings, etc., following hollows, rounds and edges. 
Add 20 per cent for ordinary weatherboarding and 
edges of door and window frames. Also make al- 
lowance for parts difficult to reach. Prices should be 
figured as follows: 

New work, 1 coat, per square yard, 10 to 12c 

" 2 coats, '' '' " 20 to 22c 

" 3 " " " '' 25 to 28c 

Old Work, 1 coat, " " " 15 to 18c 

" " 2 coats, '' " '' 22 to 25c 

Brick Walls, new, three coats, per square yard, 
28c to 35c. 

Brick Walls, old, two coats, per square yard, 20c 
to 30c. 

Brick penciling, per square yard, 12c to 15c. 

Where scaffolding is necessary, or the work is 
otherwise difficult of reach, or where color of higher 
cost than the ordinary is in demand, you must exer- 
cise your ov/n judgment in figuring the extra time 
and expense. Also in the case of repainting, be very 
careful to test the old paint, no matter how well and 
soHd it may look, because it very often happens that 
the old paint is loose from lack of binder in the orig- 
inal priming, and the new paint, on drying in con- 
tracting, loosens the old coating, causing scaling and 
then the new paint is blamed for the trouble. When 
the old paint has cracked, scaled or blistered, take 
this into consideration and figure on its removal. 
Also examine window sash to see how the putty is, 
and blind slats to see whether they are stuck fast 
and difficult to paint. 

103 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Another contractor gives his Price Schedule as 
f ollov/s : 
EXTERIOR OF FRAME BUILDINGS. 

One coat, 9c yard. 

Two coats, 15c yard. 

Three coats, 20c yard. 
EXTERIOR OF BRICK BUILDINGS. 

One coat, 12c yard. 

Two coats, 17c yard. 

Three coats, 22c yard. 

Bhnds, per pair, 50c to 75c, two coats ; Iron Shut- 
ters, per pair, 75c, two coats. 
OPENINGS. 

Painting exterior window openings, casing, sash, 
etc., 1 coat, 60c ; 2 coats, 85c each. 

Painting exterior of door openings, 1 coat, $1.00 
each; 2 coats, $1.50 each. 
TIN ROOF. 

Old w^ork, 1 coat, 10c. 

Old work, 2 coats, 15c. 

New work, 1 coat, 12c. 
IRON WORK. 

Grilles and ornamental work to be doubled or 
tripled (surface measurements) : 

One coat, 12c. 

Two coats, 18c. 

Three coats, 22c. 

Steam radiators, 1 coat, 75c each. 

Steam radiators, 2 coats, $1.25 each. 

Bronzing highlights, 50c each. 

Bronzing entire radiator, $1.00 each. 

Verde antique work, 35c yard. 
STORE FRONTS. 

One coat, 20c yard. 

Two coats, 30c yard. 

Upper stories, 1 coat, 25c yard. 

Upper stories, 2 coats, 35c yard. 

(Measurements usually doubled instead of in- 
creasing prices.) 

104 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



BOARD FENCES. 

One coat, 10c yard. 

Two coats, 15c yard. 

Measurements doubled for picket fences. Dor- 
mer windows, $1.00 to $2.00 each. 

Nineteen contractors at Loveland, Colo., agreed 
to maintain during 1915 the price schedule below 
and furnish stock, except where noted to the con- 
trary : 
DAY WORK. 

Wages at 50c per hour. 
ALL PREPARATORY WORK. 

Wages, 623/>c per hour. 
ROOF WORK." 

Per square (10x10 ft.), $1.50 and $2.50. 
EXTERIOR PAINTING. 

To furnish stock, 1 coat, 12c per sq. yd. ; 2 coats, 
22c; 3 coats, 30c. 

Owner to furnish stock, 1 coat, 7c per sq. yd; 2 
coats, 13c; 3 coats, 18c. 

A master painter of many years' experience gives 
these as average prices for use outside of large cities, 
all stock furnished by contractor: 
PAINTING NEW EXTERIOR WOOD BUILDING: 

Priming coat and putty, 14c per sq. yd. 

Two coats and putty, 22c '' " *' 

Three coats and putty, 32c " " " 
PAINTING OLD EXTERIOR WOOD BUILDING. 

One coat, 16c per sq. vd. 

Tvvo coats. 22c " " "'* 
PAINTING BLINDS. 

One coat. 44c per pair 

Two coats, 60c " '' 

Three coats, 90c ** " 
PAINTING TIN ROOFS. 

One coat, 10c per sq. yd. 

Two coats, 18c '' " " 

Three eoats, 24c " " " 

105 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



PAINTING METAL GUTTERS, VALLEYS. 

One coat, 3c per running foot 

Two coats, 4c *' 

Three coats, 6c " 
PAINTING SHINGLE PvOOF. 

One coat, 14c per sq. yd. 

Two coats, 26c " " " 

Three coats, 40c " " " 
STAINING SHINGLES. 

1 coat, dipped, $5.00 per 1,000 shingles. 

1 coat, brushed on roof, $5.00 per 1,000 shingles. 
WINDOW SASH. 

Small sash, one coat, 25c each 
" two coats, 30c " 
" three coats, 45c " 

Large sash, one coat, 35c " 
" two coats, 40c " 
" " three coats, 55c " 
PAINTING NEW BPJCK WALLS. 

One coat, 18c per sq. yd. 

Two coats, 24c " " " 

Three coats, 38c " " " 
PAINTING OLD BRICK WALLS. 

One coat, 14c per sq. yd. 

Two coats, 28c " " " 

Three coats, 50c " " " 

Interior Decorating Prices. 

Section No. 91. 

Nineteen contractors at Loveland, Colo., agreed 
to maintain during 1915 the below price schedule and 
to furnish stock : 
DAY WORK, 

Wages, 50c per hour. 
ALL PREPARATORY WORK. 

Wages, 62y2C per hour. 
PAINTING WOOD TRIM— GLOSS. 

One coat, 15c per sq. yd. 

Two coats, 25c " " " 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



ft. 



PAINTING WOOD TRIM— FLAT. 
One coat, 17c per sq. yd. 

Two coats, 28c " " " 

Three coats, 35c " " " 
GRAINING (Excluding Ground and Varnish), 

45c per square yard. 
PAINTING WALLS— OIL PAINT. 

One coat, 12c per sq. yd. 

Two coats, 22c " " " 

Three coats, 30c " '' '' 
TINTING WALLS— WATER COLOR. 

Smooth walls, $1.00 per 100 sq 

Sand finish, rough, 1.25 " " " 
STENCIL WORK. 

65c per hour. 
ENAMELING. 

One coat. 

Four coats, rubbed. 

Two coats, 
VARNISHING, 

Two coats. 

Three coats. 

Four coats, 
STAINING. 

15c per square yard. 
PAPERHANGING. 

Common lap work, 

Nip v7ork. 

Tiling and dull washable 
paper, 

Leatherette, pressed goods, 
White, $1.25 

Leatherette, pressed goods, 
Colors, 1.00 

Metallics, grass cloth, silk, 75c 

Wire edge, 30 in. goods, 75c 

Brush tints, 2.00 

Upper and lower, advance, 10c 



25c per sq. yd. 
66c " " " 
50c " " " 



35c per sq. 
48c " " 
60c " " 



yd. 



35c per roll 

50c per double roll 

50c " " " 



it it 

bolt 
tt 



Sanitas, 



roll 
25c per yard 



107 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Burlap, 20c " " 

Smooth crowns, 5c each 

Pressed " 71/2C " 

Cut out borders less than 9 in. 5c to 7c per yd. 
" " " over 9 in., 7c to 15c " " 

Base borders and liners, 2c " " 

An experienced contractor has this to say about 
prices : 

On interior work, measure the size of the rooms, 
if walls and ceilings are to be painted, but do not 
make any deductions for windows and doors. Figure 
on square yards of surface and set your price accord- 
ingly. If the rooms are papered, and only the wood- 
work is to be painted, measure the baseboards, win- 
dow frames, doors and door frames, and figure the 
sash as if solid. For interior work on walls and ceil- 
ing, new work, three coats, the price should not be 
less than 30c per square yard; for old work, two 
coats, 24c. If only the woodwork is to be painted, 
new w^ork, three coats, 35c to 40c per yard ; while on 
old work, two coats, 28c to 32c will be none too much, 
according to condition of surface. 

Another contractor made up this price list: 
PAINTING WALLS AND CEILINGS. 

One coat, 9c per sq. yd. 

Two coats, 15c " " *' 

Three coats, 22c " " " 

One coat size and 2 coats paint, 20c per sq. yd. 

Three coats paint and stippled, 25c to 30c per 
sq. yd. 
PAINTING NEW PLASTER. 

One coat size and 3 coats paint, 35c per sq. yd. 
WASHING CEILING AND 1 COAT PAINT, 

16c per square yard. 
TIFFANY WALL GLAZING, 

40c per square yard. 
PAINTING METAL CEILINGS. 

One coat, 14c per sq. yd. 

Two coats, 18c " " " 

m 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Px\INTING WOOD TRIM. 

One coat, 10c per sq. yd. 
Two coats, 15c " '' '* 

WOOD TRIM. 

Varnishing, one coat, 10c per square yard 

two coats, 15c " 

Stain and varnish flat, one 

coat, 15c " 

Wash and varnish, 2 coats, 18c *' 
Paint, grain and varnish 

raihngs, 40c per running yd. 

Paint, grain and varnish beams and overhead 
rafters, per yard, 30c. 

Stairways, ordinary, stained and waxed, $5.00 to 
$12.00 each. 

Same, stained and two coats varnish, $8.00 to 
$18.00 each. 

ENAMELING. 

One coat, 15c yard 
Two coats, 22c " 
Three coats, 30c " 
Four coats, 40c *' 
Rubbing enamel, per yard, 20c. 

FLOORS. 

Oihng, one coat, 8c 
'* two coats, 14c 
Filling, and two coats varnish, 18c yard. 
Fill, shellac, and one coat varnish, rubbed,' 80c 
yard. 

Stain, and two coats varnish, 20c yard. 
One coat oil and one coat varnish, 15c yard. 
Old floors, one coat varnish, 15c yard. 

DOOR AND CASINGS (Two Sides). 

Varnishing, one coat, 70c to $1.00 each 

two coats, $1.00 to 1.50 " 
Shellacing, one coat, 1.15 " 

Stain, two coats, varnish and wax, 1.50 " 



109 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Fill, stain and two coats varnish, 2.00 

rub, 2.50 *' 
*' three " *' " 3.00 ]| 

Enamel, four coats and rub, 4.00 

Still another contractor uses this price schedule: 
PAINTING DOORS (Two Sides). 

One coat, 86c each 

Two coats, ?l-40 

Three coats, 1-80 

Filling, two coats varnish and rubbed 

with pumice stone and water, 2.10 

Filling, and one coat varnish, 1.10 

'' two coats ** 2.20 '' 

PAINTING WINDOW CASINGS (Small and Sash). 
One coat, 45c each 

Two coats, 75c " 

PAINTING WINDOW CASINGS (Large and Sash). 
One coat, 60c each 

Two coats, 85c " 

WINDOW CASINGS AND SASH. 

Fill, and two coats varnish, $1.00 each 

SAKDPAPERING AND PUTTYING, 

12c per square yard. 
FLOOR FINISHING. 

Filled, and one coat varnish, 30c per sq. yd. 
" two coats " 40c " " " 

" waxed coat, 35c "^ '^ *] 

Same, with two coats wax, 45c 

Waxing and polishing, 18c 

Filled, one coat varnish, rubbed 

with pumice stone and oil, 40c 
Same, with two coats varnish, 55c '* 
Parquetry floor, filled, varnished, 

one coat, puttied and rubbed, 45c " 
Same, two coats varnish, 60c 

New floor, one coat shellac, var- 
nish, or wax, 14c 
New floor, two coats shellac, var- 
nish, or wax, 30c 



110 



42c 


ii 


n 


n 


10c 


a 


n 


n 


14c 


n 


(< 


« 


16c 


per 


sq. 


yd. 


30c 








12c 








12c 








12c 








22c 








10c 









ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



New floor, three coats shellac, 

varnish, or wax. 
One coat linseed oil. 
Two coats linseed oil, 
FINISHING INTERIOR TRIM. 
One coat first-class varnish or 

shellac. 
Two coats first-class varnish or 

shellac, 
Staining, 
Oiling, 

One coat wax, 
Two coats wax. 
Polishing, 
Filling, two coats of hard oil 

rubbed with steel wool, 80c " " " 

Filling, one coat hard oil and one 

coat wax, 50c '' " " 

Filling and one coat varnish, 20c " " " 
" two coats " 28c " " " 

*' " two coats ** and 
rubbed with pumice stone and 
water, 50c '' '* " 

STAIRS AND OPEN SPINDLE RAIL. 

Filling and two coats varnish, $8.00 to $10.00 for 
the job. 

Filling and one coat of varnish, $5.00 to $8.00 for 
the job. 
FILLING ANY TRIM. 

Open grain wood, paste filler, 30c per sq. yd. 
Close grain wood, liquid filler or 

shellac, 14c " " " 

Steel wool Hght rub or sandpa- 
pering, 12c " " '' 
Rubbing to satin finish, 20c " " " 
RADIATORS. 

Painting, one coat, 80c to $1.00 each 

Bronzing, one coat, same price. 

Glazing and wiping out, 40c to 60c " 

111 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



ENAMEL. 

3 Ground coats, sanded and 1 coat enamel SO per sq, yd. 

4 " '• '^ • 1 '' " $1.00 *' " " 

g " '• " •' 1 " " 1.20 " " " 

4 '• " " '' 2 coats '^ 1.2J) " " " 

5 " " " " 2 " " 1.50 " " " 

Rubbing to satin finish with pumice and water, 
50c per square yard. 

PAINTING WALLS. 

Size and one coat paint, 18c per sq. yd. 

" two coats paint, 30c '' " " 

" three " " 40c " " " 

Stippling, one coat, 6c " " " 

two coats, 12c " " " 

TIFFANY GLAZE, 

One color (not including ground 

coats), 40c " " " 

TIFFANY GLAZE, 

Two colors (not including ground 

coats), 60c " " " 

TIP^FANY GLAZE, 

Four colors (not including ground 

coats), 80c " " " 

CALCIMINING WALLS. 

Smoolh plaster, light tints and 

white, 7c per sq. yd. 

Sand finish or rough, light tints 

and white, 12c " " " 

Ceilings, light tints and white, 12c " " " 
One coat hard oil size, 10c " " " 

Removing old calcimine, wall paper, filling cracks, 
etc., charge day work and material cost. 

STENCILING. 

1 color, 8 in. wide and smaller, 8c per lineal ft. 

2 colors, 8 in. wide and smaller, 12c " " " 

1 color, larger than 8 in. wide, 10c " " " 

2 colors, larger than 8 in. wide, 16c " " " 



112 




FRONT 



113 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Chapter VI 

THE MODERN PAINT SHOP— ITS MANAGE- 
MENT 

Probably in no occupation is there greater op- 
portunity for waste of expensive material and more 
expensive time than in that of the contracting- 
painter and decorator. A correct shop system and 
shop practice such as exists in many of the larger 
city establishments may appear to require an un- 
reasonable amount of labor domg details and petty 
tasks, and yet at the end of the season when the 
reckoning with the books comes, the shop system of 
many details gives a good account of itself; it may 
easily lay claim to having earned a generous por- 
tion of the profits. 

Have you ever gone into a shop employing quite 
a large number of men where the *'do and go-as-you- 
please" method (or lack of method) is in force and 
surveyed the ruins ? The old saying : ''What is every 
man's business is no man's business" must have been 
written after the author had witnessed a gang of 
painters helping themselves in a shop guided by no 
system. Where only a dozen are employed, and no 
one man has charge of and is responsible for the 
materials and shop, no matter how orderly things 
were at the start, within a week chaos will reign; 
knives and paddles will be taken out of colors and 
jammed into white, light paint will be mixed in 

114 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

■dark pots because all the pots are uncleaned, oil, 
benzine and turpentine taps will be left running, 
every paint strainer, if there are a dozen, will be 
choked up with skins, dirty oil and turps will ac- 
cumulate by the barrel and hard putty will lay 
around in five-pound lumps while the waste skinned 
and fatty paint alone will probably exceed the value 
of several days' labor. And when several men get 
into the shop at once, what a waste of time at fifty 
or sixty cents per hour before they can find the ma- 
terial wanted, if indeed it is in the shop. 

The contractor with the low bid on a job is not 
always the one who has sacrificed his profit, but 
often is a man who by good system and manage- 
ment in the shop and on the job has cut down the 
cost of doing business to the minimum, his bid is 
low, but his profit is there just the same. 

It is no small task to introduce an efficient shop 
system and practice where no order prevailed before. 
The great difficulty is the opposition of the journey- 
men. The erratic disposition of the painter is an 
obstacle to overcome; the character of his work 
seems to develop whatever of the Bohemian there is 
in his nature. In adopting a new system of shop 
management a firm and decided course must be de- 
termined on from the start. In introducing reforms, 
the contractor himself must bow to and obey the 
rules. The work of managing the shop cannot be 
successfully delegated to one man until it becomes 
known that the system is part of the establishment, 
that to obey the rules is a condition of employment 
and to disregard them means the scratching off of 
names from the payroll. 

115 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



Every shop of whatever size needs a carefully 
planned system of management. The shop which 
cares for but three to six men would naturally re- 
quiie only a simple shop arrangement and system. 
Bat at that, if a man is not employed to do all the 
mixing and care for the shop, an apprentice should 
be given the task. It will prove excellent training 
for him if carefully instructed and coached in habits 
of economy and cleanliness. It will give him a knov/1- 
edge of materials and help to establish the good and 
close relations that ought to exist betv/een master 
and apprentice. 

The shop plan here shown is that of a contractor 
in an Eastern city. A careful study of the arrange- 
ment easily shows that there is a place for every- 
thing and that everything is kept in its place. 

Order, method, cleanliness and compactness greet 
the eye from every quarter. This shop employs from 
forty to sixty men, and yet should they all call in 
the morning at the shop for "orders," every man 
could be sent out fully equipped with tools and ma- 
terials in fifteen minutes. Every pound of material 
and every measure of liquid would be charged on 
the books. The office force consists of one clerk and 
the proprietor. 

The paint shop is about 40x50 feet, and on one 
side are closets for storing colors, and on the other 
side lockers are provided for the use of the men. The 
general color of ceiling and woodwork is white. Each 
series of colors is kept in a special closet. Lemon, 
chrome, orange, raw sienna, several different kinds 
of ochre, and in fact everything pertaining to yel- 

116 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 



low, are conveniently kept in the same closet. A 
similar classification is made of the various greens, 
reds, browns, blues and other colors. The closets are 
about six feet high, quite deep, and of good width, 
with a shelf for each species of color, small cans on 
upper color closet, large kegs below. On the outside 
of the door of each shelf the name of the color is 
stenciled. Nothing larger than a five-pound pack- 
age of color is placed in these closets. They contain 
an assortment of five, two, and one-pound cans. Most 
of the colors used in this shop are bought in pack- 
ages of small size, excepting some of the ordinary 
colors used for shop mixing. The economy of buy- 
ing colors in such small packages for a large shop 
may be questioned, but suppose one of the men es- 
timates that he v/ill need ten pounds of umber for 
a job. He is given a five-pound can, a couple of two- 
pound cans, and a one-pound can. It is probable that 
he will use only seven or eight pounds of color. He 
is instructed to open the five-pound can first and 
generally a number of unopened cans would be re- 
turned. Had the man been given a ten-pound can, it 
would probably have dried up and been wasted. All 
materials are kept under lock and key in the cus- 
tody of the shopman, and his word is law in regard 
to the care of material. The closets are so arranged 
that he is able to place his hand immediately on any 
particular material. 

Now, concerning the shopman, do not think for 
one moment that such a large shop can be looked 
after systematically by a boy. Very few boys are 
systematic, and in addition, journeymen are not in- 

117 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

clined to pay much attention to even a capable boy. 

The lockers for the men are numbered, and large 
enoug'h to hold two pots and one or two suits of over- 
alls. Each man is supplied with a key, and a master- 
key for all of them is kept in the office. 

In the back of the shop is a large zinc-covered 
work and mixing bench. On a broad shelf, raised 
about ten inches above the bench, are kept opened 
and partly used cans of standing color. No color 
may be taken from the closets while a duplicate color 
is on the shelf. In the back of the shop are barrels 
of oil, turps, benzine and varnish. Over the barrels 
are racks for cans, which are kept filled from the 
barrels by the shopman. One rack contains ten five- 
gallon cans of oil, another rack ten two-gallon cans 
of oil, w^hile another contains ten one-gallon cans. 
The same arrangement is made for turps, while var- 
nishes are decanted in one-gallon cans. All these 
racks are stenciled as to the articles contained in 
each. The time saved by this arrangement is very 
considerable. Suppose ten men need oil on diff'erent 
jobs. Instead of waiting to draw from tanks, each 
man may be instantly supplied from the racks. 

White lead for this shop is bought in casks. 
Three large tubs, with covers, are kept well filled 
with mixed color in the busy season. One tub con- 
tains white mixed for inside work, another contains 
white mixed for outside use, while the third tub is 
used for light drab resulting from the mixture of all 
light colors returned. It is, of course, used up be- 
fore old enough to become fatty. A smaller tub is 
provided for dark colors returned. 

lis 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

Every step-ladder, plank, rope, or tool of any de- 
scription is listed, and all tools sent out on a job are 
charged on a tool slip, teilin^: exactly their location. 
The chai'ging' of the tools is done by the shopman. 
When a job is finished, the man in charge is required 
to make out a list of everything left at the place of 
work. A printed slip with a space for each of the 
various tools used bj^ a painter is furnished him. 
This slip is filled out and given to the shopman, who 
at once turns it over to the wagon hand vrith in 
structions to bring the tools to the shop. The tools 
returned are compared with the list filled out by the 
painter, and also with the tool charge slip. If any- 
thing is missing, it is at once looked after, and gen- 
erally found. Under this system, it is not necessary 
every year to replace a large number of lost tools. 

Stock charging is carefully looked after, and the 
busiest time of the day is from 6:30 to 7 a. m. The 
shop forces, consisting of the master painter, shop- 
man and clerk, are on hand at 6:30 a. m. The books 
are tak n from the office into the paint shop and 
placed on a desk facing a fine set of platform scales. 
These scales having a double-faced beam, the clerk 
making the entry can at once ascertain the correct 
weight. Any stock taken out of the shop after the 
morning hour is charged on stock slips, which are all 
taken fromi the file and entered in the books before 
the day is over. 

There are no '"leaks" in this paint shop. Each 
man is supplied with a complete set of brushes — two 
paint brushes, two sash tools and several fitches, all 
of which are charged on the books, together with 
the number of the locker. 

119 



ESTIMATES, COSTS AND PROFITS 

When new brushes are needed, the old stumps 
must be turned in, and there is a regular brush in- 
spection every week. Each man is required to fur- 
nish himself with the following- tools: One glazing 
or stopping knife, one broad knife or scraper, a small 
pointing trowel and a good duster. Clean overalls 
aie required every Monday morning, and a refusal 
to observe these rules means a resignation from the 
objector. 

Clean pots are furnished the men, and it is made 
a point that the pots be returned to the shop in the 
same condition. 

The time sheet is issued daily to each man, the 
day being printed across the face of each sheet. Each 
day has a different color. The men are required to 
fill out the daily sheet, embodying a description of 
the work done by them on that day. Men reporting 
at the shop the next day are required to hand in 
their sheets before going to work. Those who do 
not report, are required to mail them over night and 
put in tlieir claim weekly for postage. Under this 
system, ail the time worked on any particular day 
is correctly charged by 10 o'clock on the succeeding 
day. If fifty men are working, you have a complete 
journal of their proceedings and can always make 
out your account without w^aiting for the weekly 
time sheet, and without making inquiries among 
the men. 

The daily time sheet seems to entail very con- 
siderable work, but in reality it is far less trouble- 
some tlian the weekly time sheet, and all the time 
is correctly entered at once. 

120 



